真剣
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Base na-adjective form. Describes a serious or earnest attitude. Often used with 『に』 (ni) as an adverb or with 『な』 (na) before nouns.
Theme
Two coworkers, Ken and User, are discussing their upcoming project presentation at the office. Ken is concerned about the team's preparation.
真剣
しんけん
seriousness / earnestness
Culture & SocietyTraditions & Customs
Memory Hook
Picture a samurai with a 'serious' face, holding a real sword. '真剣' (shinken) sounds like 'shin-ken' — 'shin' (true) and 'ken' (sword) meaning 'real sword' or 'seriousness'.
Cultural Note
『真剣』 (shinken, 'seriousness') originally means 'real sword' (as opposed to a practice sword). It's used to describe earnest attitudes in work, study, or important matters, emphasizing sincerity and focus.
Forms
Base: 真剣Base na-adjective form. Describes a serious or earnest attitude. Often used with 『に』 (ni) as an adverb or with 『な』 (na) before nouns.
Negative: 真剣じゃないAdd 『じゃない』 (janai, 'not') → 『真剣じゃない』 (shinken janai, 'not serious'). Casual form; polite is 『真剣ではありません』 (shinken dewa arimasen).
Past: 真剣だったAdd 『だった』 (datta, past) → 『真剣だった』 (shinken datta, 'was serious'). Polite past is 『真剣でした』 (shinken deshita).
Adverbial: 真剣にAdd 『に』 (ni, adverbial marker) → 『真剣に』 (shinken ni, 'seriously'). Used to modify verbs, e.g., 『真剣に勉強する』 (shinken ni benkyou suru, 'to study seriously').
Comparative: より真剣Comparative formed with 『より』 (yori, 'more than') + base form → 『より真剣』 (yori shinken, 'more serious').
Superlative: 一番真剣Superlative formed with 『一番』 (ichiban, 'most') + base form → 『一番真剣』 (ichiban shinken, 'the most serious').