How to say "keen" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 痛切つうせつna-adjective, nounCovers 'keen' meaning acutely, painfully felt: a keen sense of loss, keen regret or keen awareness of one's responsibility. The feeling cuts deep; it typically describes emotions or realizations rather than people or objects.
- 鋭利えいりna-adjective, nounThis is the literal 'keen' of blades: an edge or point that is sharp and cuts well. For a keen knife or blade this is the word; it applies to physical edges rather than minds or feelings.
- 鋭敏えいびんna-adjective, nounCovers 'keen' of senses and intellect: keen eyesight or hearing, a keen mind, keen perception. It suggests the ability to notice or detect things quickly and finely, and can also imply sensitivity.
- 熱心ねっしんna-adjective, nounThis is 'keen' in the sense of enthusiastic or eager: keen on a sport, keen to learn, a keen member of a club. It describes sustained enthusiasm and dedication toward an activity or goal.
- 切せつna-adjective, nounA marginal match: it really conveys earnest, ardent eagerness — an earnest wish, plea or desire — and is seldom the word you want for 'keen' in any of its usual senses.
Choose by sense: 痛切 for keen feelings such as regret, 鋭利 for a keen edge, 鋭敏 for keen senses or mind, 熱心 for being keen on or to do something, and 切 only for earnest eagerness.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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