専念|せんねんsennen[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbabsorption; giving undivided attention; devoting oneself (to)
    まずは、自分じぶんの事ことに専念せんねんしなさい。↗
    Tend to your own affairs first.
Conjugation
Dictionary form専念する(せんねんする)
Polite (masu)専念します(せんねんします)
Negative (nai)専念しない(せんねんしない)
polite (masen)専念しません(せんねんしません)
classical zu / nu専念せず・専念せぬ(せんねんせず・せんねんせぬ)
Past (ta)専念した(せんねんした)
polite (mashita)専念しました(せんねんしました)
Past negative (nakatta)専念しなかった(せんねんしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)専念しませんでした(せんねんしませんでした)
Te form専念して(せんねんして)
Potential専念できる(せんねんできる)
Passive専念される(せんねんされる)
Causative専念させる(せんねんさせる)
Causative passive専念させられる(せんねんさせられる)
Conditional (ba)専念すれば(せんねんすれば)
tara専念したら(せんねんしたら)
Volitional専念しよう(せんねんしよう)
polite (mashou)専念しましょう(せんねんしましょう)
Imperative専念しろ(せんねんしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym傾注けいちゅうWrittenWritten/formal prose: to pour effort or energy into something, as in 「全力を傾注する」; emphasizes the devotion of effort itself.
  • Synonym専心せんしんWrittenWritten/formal prose synonym: to devote yourself to one thing, as in 「研究に専心する」; close in meaning to 「専念」 but used less often.
  • Synonym一心不乱いっしんふらんNeutralA four-character idiom meaning single-minded and free of distractions; stresses the state of being fully focused in the moment.
  • Synonym集中しゅうちゅうNeutralNeutral and the most versatile of the group: concentrating attention on something. 「専念」 stresses shutting out everything else to devote yourself to one thing.
  • Synonym夢中むちゅうNeutralNeutral: being absorbed in or crazy about something, as in 「ゲームに夢中」; stresses fascination, and the object need not be something serious or worthwhile.
  • Synonym一心いっしんNeutralNeutral: single-minded devotion, and also many people being of one mind; most often used adverbially as 「一心に」.
  • Synonym没入ぼつにゅうNeutralNeutral: immersion, sinking into and being absorbed in something, as in 「作品世界に没入」; stresses the feeling of being immersed.
  • SynonymコンセントレーションNeutralNeutral loanword for concentration of attention, used in sports and other fields; unlike 「専念」, it does not imply giving up everything else for one pursuit.
  • Antonym怠るおこたるNeutralAntonym: to neglect or be negligent in what one should do; the opposite of the wholehearted devotion expressed by 「専念」.
  • Antonym放棄ほうきNeutralAntonym: to give up or abandon something, letting it go altogether; the opposite of devoting yourself to it as 「専念」 describes.

Use 「専念」 to devote yourself fully to one thing, as in 「治療に専念する」 or 「学業に専念」. For simply concentrating attention, choose 「集中」; for being absorbed in something, 「夢中」. The antonyms are 「怠る」 and 「放棄」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 一ひとつのことに掛かかり切きりになること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

Say it right, write it right

Core lookup works fully offline, with cloud pronunciation and one-tap save & review. Free, no sign-up.

Free downloadWindowsFree downloadmacOSDownload on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
MobileiOS / Android

Android

QR code for the Google Play pageGet it on Google Play

Scan it with your Android phone to install, or search for “Tomoshi” on Google Play.

iOS

QR code for the App Store pageDownload on the App Store

Scan it with your iPhone camera to install, or search for “Tomoshi” in the App Store.

Install the browser extensionLook words up on any web page · Chrome / Edge / Safari

Screenshot of a Tomoshi lookup resultScreenshot of Tomoshi lookup results on a phone

Windows macOS Chrome / Edge / Safari extension iOS / Android