How to say "hardworking" in Japanese

• まめCommon
  na-adjectiveThe common everyday choice for a diligent, conscientious person — someone who works steadily and attentively. Usually written in kana alone, it fits praise of a hardworking colleague or family member.
  彼女かのじょってまめだね。↗

  She doesn't have a lazy bone in her body.
• まめまめしい
  i-adjectiveAn emphatic derivative of まめ, and less common: it paints diligence you can see — someone briskly and painstakingly attending to every task. Use it when you want to depict such lively, industrious conduct.
• 勉強熱心べんきょうねっしん
  na-adjectiveLess common, and the studious choice: it describes earnest application to study and learning. Use it for hard work at one's studies, not for industriousness on the job — there まめ fits better.

Use 「まめ」 for everyday, conscientious diligence in work or tasks, 「まめまめしい」 for vivid, painstaking industriousness, and 勉強熱心 specifically for hard work at one's studies.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• まめdiligent
• まめまめしいhardworking
• 勉強熱心べんきょうねっしんhardworking