心がける・心掛ける・心懸ける|こころがけるkokorogakeru[5]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
心がける心がける is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it for “to keep in mind,” “to try,” and “to aim to do.”
心掛ける心掛ける is a less common written form; when choosing a form yourself, use 心がける instead.
心懸ける心懸ける is a rarely used written form, so learners should recognize it but normally choose 心がける when writing.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto keep in mind; to bear in mind; to try; to aim to do; to endeavor; to endeavour
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 心がける（こころがける） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 心がけます（こころがけます） |
| Negative (nai) | 心がけない（こころがけない） |
| polite (masen) | 心がけません（こころがけません） |
| classical zu / nu | 心がけず・心がけぬ（こころがけず・こころがけぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 心がけた（こころがけた） |
| polite (mashita) | 心がけました（こころがけました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 心がけなかった（こころがけなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 心がけませんでした（こころがけませんでした） |
| Te form | 心がけて（こころがけて） |
| Potential | 心がけられる（こころがけられる） |
| Passive | 心がけられる（こころがけられる） |
| Causative | 心がけさせる（こころがけさせる） |
| Causative passive | 心がけさせられる（こころがけさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 心がければ（こころがければ） |
| tara | 心がけたら（こころがけたら） |
| Volitional | 心がけよう（こころがけよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 心がけましょう（こころがけましょう） |
| Imperative | 心がけろ（こころがけろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Related努めるつとめるNeutralFor making an effort or striving, as in 「改善に努める」; it stresses expending effort, while 「心がける」 is about staying mindful of something day to day.
- Related努力どりょくNeutralA noun for effort put into something, common in both speech and writing, as in 「努力を重ねる」; it does not stress everyday attentiveness.
- Related尽力じんりょくFormalFormal; devoting effort to a person or cause, as in 「ご尽力いただく」「救助に尽力する」.
- Related励むはげむWrittenWritten style; working diligently at something, as in 「練習に励む」; it suggests burying oneself in the task rather than everyday mindfulness.
- Antonym怠るおこたるWrittenWritten style; to neglect or be lax about something, the opposite of constant attentiveness, as in 「注意を怠る」.
- AntonymおろそかにするNeutralTo neglect or treat something as unimportant, the opposite of the mindful attention of 「心がける」.
Use 「心がける」 for keeping something in mind as a daily habit, e.g. 「早寝早起きを心がける」「安全運転を心がける」. For striving say 「努める」, for effort itself 「努力」; 「尽力」 is formal for aiding a cause, 「励む」 written for diligent work; antonyms are 「怠る」 and 「疎かにする」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
