まめ・忠実mame[0]heiban (flat)

1. na-adjectivediligent; hardworking; conscientious
   彼女かのじょってまめだね。↗

   She doesn't have a lazy bone in her body.
2. na-adjectivehealthy; well; fit
3. na-adjectivefaithful; honest; sincere

• Synonym律儀りちぎNeutralStresses keeping rules and honoring obligations — conscientious, honest and meticulous; 「まめ」 instead stresses being diligent and ready to take trouble.
• Synonym誠実せいじつNeutralSincere and honest — genuine in dealing with people; unlike 「まめ」 it does not stress diligence.
• SynonymてまめNeutralDiligent and skillful with one's hands — busy doing things like writing letters or housework; 「まめ」 covers diligence more broadly.
• SynonymまめまめしいNeutralEmphatic reduplication of 「まめ」: working hard and attentively, doing things painstakingly and thoughtfully.
• Synonym篤実とくじつWrittenWritten/formal prose term for a sincere, kind, dependable character; stresses honest, reliable character rather than diligence.
• Synonym物堅いものがたいNeutralDescribes a person as upright and reliable, stressing caution and sticking to the rules; 「まめ」 is about diligent effort.
• Synonym貞実ていじつWrittenWritten and old-fashioned: chaste and faithful, stressing devotion to one's spouse; not about diligence.
• SynonymこまめNeutralDiligent and frequent, common in colloquial speech, as in 「こまめに水分補給」; adds the nuance of doing something often.
• Antonym裏切りうらぎりNeutralBetrayal or treachery — the opposite of the loyalty implied by 「まめ」.
• Antonym不忠実ふちゅうじつWrittenWritten/formal antonym: disloyalty or unfaithfulness, the opposite of the diligent, faithful 「まめ」.

Use 「まめ」 for being diligent and willing to take the trouble, as in 「まめに連絡する」 or 「筆まめ」; it is also written 「忠実」. For frequent diligence say 「こまめ」, for dutiful rule-keeping 「律儀」, for honesty 「誠実」. The opposites are 「不忠実」 and 「裏切り」.

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

1. 真心まごころをもって務つとめを果はたすさま。