真面目|まじめmajime[0]heiban (flat)

1. na-adjective, nounserious; earnest; sober; grave
   サムは仕事しごとに関かんしてまじめです。↗

   Sam is serious about his work.
2. na-adjective, nounhonest; sincere

• Synonym本気ほんきNeutralBeing in earnest and meaning it, as in 「本気で怒る」; stresses that one is not joking, rather than describing character.
• Synonym真摯しんしWrittenWritten/formal prose for sincere and earnest, as in 「真摯に向き合う」; typical of formal statements.
• Synonym真剣しんけんNeutralFully absorbed and serious, as in 「真剣な表情」; stresses the earnest attitude of the moment.
• SynonymシリアスCasualColloquial loanword for grave and serious, as in 「シリアスな展開」; often of the mood of films, novels and the like.
• Synonym実直じっちょくWrittenWritten/formal prose for steady, honest dependability, as in 「実直な職人」.
• Synonym律儀りちぎNeutralDutiful and true to obligations, always doing the proper thing, as in 「律儀な人」.
• Synonym良心的りょうしんてきNeutralConscientious and fair-minded, as in 「良心的な価格」; also often of fair prices.
• Synonym堅気かたぎNeutralAn ordinary, respectable person in a proper occupation, as opposed to the underworld.
• Synonym生真面目きまじめNeutralStronger than 「真面目」: overly serious and inflexible, with a touch of rigidity, as in 「生真面目な人」.
• Related熱心ねっしんNeutralKeen and enthusiastic about something, as in 「熱心に練習する」; stresses zeal for the activity.
• Related懸命けんめいWrittenWritten/formal prose for going all out, as in 「懸命な努力」.
• Related一生懸命いっしょうけんめいNeutralStraining with all one's might, as in 「一生懸命働く」; stresses total commitment to the task.
• Related正直しょうじきNeutralHonest in the sense of never lying, as in 「正直に話す」; stresses truthfulness rather than diligence.
• Related誠実せいじつNeutralSincere and honest in dealing with others, as in 「誠実な対応」; stresses genuine good faith toward people.
• Related一途いちずWrittenWritten/formal prose for single-minded, unwavering devotion, as in 「一途な思い」.
• Related率直そっちょくNeutralFrank and candid, as in 「率直な意見」; stresses speaking plainly rather than earnestness.
• Related一筋ひとすじWrittenWritten/formal prose for devoting oneself to one thing alone, as in 「研究一筋」.
• Related誠まことWrittenWritten/formal prose for sincerity or truth, as in 「誠を尽くす」.
• RelatedひたすらWrittenWritten/formal prose for doing one thing single-mindedly, as in 「ひたすら待つ」.
• Related素直すなおNeutralFrank and unresistant, as in 「素直に謝る」; stresses going along without awkwardness or contrariness.
• RelatedひたむきWrittenWritten/formal prose for single-mindedly pouring oneself into one thing, as in 「ひたむきな姿勢」.
• Related真正直ましょうじきWrittenWritten/formal prose for completely honest; stresses degree and is used less often.
• Related篤実とくじつWrittenWritten/formal prose for warm sincerity and solid honesty, as in 「温厚篤実」.
• Antonym軽薄けいはくNeutralThe opposite of 「真面目」: frivolous, flippant and shallow, as in 「軽薄な男」.
• Antonym不真面目ふまじめNeutralThe direct opposite of 「真面目」: not serious, half-hearted, as in 「不真面目な態度」.

For serious and honest in general, 「真面目」 is the default. Use 「生真面目」 for overly serious and rigid, 「本気」 for being in earnest rather than joking, and 「真剣」 for grave, absorbed attention. For honesty, 「正直」 stresses not lying and 「誠実」 sincerity toward others; for frankness pick 「素直」 or 「率直」. 「不真面目」 and 「軽薄」 are the opposites. The rest describe effort, devotion or uprightness, many in written style: 「熱心」, 「一生懸命」, 「懸命」, 「ひたむき」, 「一途」, 「一筋」, 「ひたすら」, 「真摯」, 「誠」, 「実直」, 「律儀」, 「篤実」, 「真正直」, 「良心的」, 「堅気」.

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

1. 物事ものごとにいいかげんでなく、本気ほんきで取り組とりくむようす。
2. うそやごまかしがなく、心こころがまっすぐなようす。