懸命|けんめいkenmei[0]heiban (flat)

1. na-adjective, nouneager; earnest; strenuous; fervent; assiduous; with utmost effort
   父ちちは私が懸命けんめいに働はたらかなければならないと言いった。↗

   My father said that I must work hard.

• Synonym真面目まじめNeutralDescribes a serious, honest character or attitude — someone who doesn't cut corners. 「懸命」 is about how hard you work at something, not about character.
• Synonym一途いちずNeutralHeading one way regardless of everything else, often for single-minded devotion in love. 「懸命」 carries no nuance of exclusivity or persistence.
• Synonym熱心ねっしんNeutralEnthusiastic, active engagement in something, as in 「熱心な学生」. Milder than 「懸命」 — it lacks the sense of pushing yourself to the limit.
• Synonym一生懸命いっしょうけんめいNeutralEssentially the same meaning. Everyday conversation prefers 「一生懸命」, while 「懸命」 turns up mostly in writing and news reports, as in 「懸命の捜索」.
• SynonymひたすらNeutralMostly an adverb meaning doing one thing and only that, usually written in kana as 「ひたすら」. 「懸命」 focuses on using all your strength.
• SynonymひたむきNeutralSingle-minded devotion to one thing, with an approving tone. 「懸命」 highlights doing your utmost and says nothing about focus on one goal.
• Synonym熱誠ねっせいWrittenWritten/formal prose for an attitude full of fervor; examples are scarce. Everyday speech uses 「熱心」, while 「懸命」 stresses the effort itself.
• Related真面目まじめNeutralDescribes a serious, honest character or attitude — someone who doesn't cut corners. 「懸命」 is about how hard you work at something, not about character.
• Related本気ほんきNeutralMeans being in earnest rather than joking, as in 「本気で怒る」. 「懸命」 stresses putting all your strength into the doing, not whether you mean it.
• Related真摯しんしWrittenWritten/formal prose for a sincere, earnest attitude, as in 「真摯に受け止める」. 「懸命」 stresses straining every effort, not sincerity.
• Related真剣しんけんNeutralSerious and fully absorbed (also a real sword). 「懸命」 adds all-out effort; for working hard at a task either fits, but not where only seriousness is meant.
• Related一途いちずNeutralHeading one way regardless of everything else, often for single-minded devotion in love. 「懸命」 carries no nuance of exclusivity or persistence.
• Related一筋ひとすじNeutralDevotion to a single pursuit, often as a suffix in 「仕事一筋」; literally means one line or strand. 「懸命」 has no single-minded nuance.
• Related生真面目きまじめNeutralOverly serious and inflexible — a personality trait. 「懸命」 describes the state of exerting yourself at a given moment, not a character type.
• Related摯実しじつWrittenExtremely rare written word for sincere seriousness; use 「真面目」 or 「誠実」 in everyday speech. It has no sense of straining your utmost either.
• Antonym怠惰たいだWrittenAntonym: lazy and unwilling to exert yourself, in written/formal prose; describes an attitude or way of life rather than a moment's effort.
• Antonym無精ぶしょうNeutralAntonym: shirking things because they are a bother; also an unkempt look, as in 「無精ひげ」. The opposite of 「懸命」's devoted effort.

For everyday talk about trying hard, say 「一生懸命」; 「懸命」 suits written prose and news reports. For a serious attitude choose 「真剣」 or 「真面目」, for enthusiasm 「熱心」, and for single-minded focus 「ひたすら」 or 「一途」.

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

1. 力ちからを尽つくし頑張がんばる様子ようす。死しに物狂ものぐるい。