生真面目
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Base na-adjective form. Describes a person who is overly earnest, sincere, or rigidly serious. Often implies a lack of flexibility or humor.
Theme
At a university study group, User and their friend Ken discuss their classmate's approach to assignments.
生真面目
きまじめ
serious, sincerity
People & IdentityEmotions & Personality
Memory Hook
Picture a 'raw' (生 nama) 'serious' (真面目 majime) person who is overly sincere — like a raw, unprocessed seriousness! 'Raw serious' → 生真面目 (kinamajime, 'serious, sincerity').
Cultural Note
『生真面目』 (kinamajime, 'serious, sincerity') describes someone who is excessively earnest or rigidly honest, often to the point of being inflexible. It's a common trait in work or academic settings in Japan, where diligence is highly valued.
Forms
Base: 生真面目Base na-adjective form. Describes a person who is overly earnest, sincere, or rigidly serious. Often implies a lack of flexibility or humor.
Negative: 生真面目じゃないAdd 『じゃない』 (janai, 'not') after the base form → 『生真面目じゃない』 (kinamajime janai, 'not serious').
Past: 生真面目だったAdd 『だった』 (datta, past marker) after the base form → 『生真面目だった』 (kinamajime datta, 'was serious').
Adverbial: 生真面目にAdd 『に』 (ni, adverbial marker) after the base form → 『生真面目に』 (kinamajime ni, 'seriously').
Comparative: より生真面目Comparative formed with modifier 『より』 (yori, 'more than') + base adjective.
Superlative: 一番生真面目Superlative formed with 『一番』 (ichiban, 'number one / Most') + base adjective.