観念|かんねんkannen[1]atamadaka (head-high)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Definitions
  1. nounidea; notion; concept; conception
    The idea of happiness is extremely abstract.
  2. nounsense (e.g. of duty)
    彼女かのじょには義務ぎむの観念かんねんが無ない。↗
    She has no sense of duty.
  3. noun, suru verb, transitive verbresignation (to one's fate); acceptance; preparedness
    もう助たすからないものと観念かんねんした。↗
    I gave up all hope of survival.
  4. noun, Buddhismobservation and contemplation; meditation
Conjugation
Dictionary form観念する(かんねんする)
Polite (masu)観念します(かんねんします)
Negative (nai)観念しない(かんねんしない)
polite (masen)観念しません(かんねんしません)
classical zu / nu観念せず・観念せぬ(かんねんせず・かんねんせぬ)
Past (ta)観念した(かんねんした)
polite (mashita)観念しました(かんねんしました)
Past negative (nakatta)観念しなかった(かんねんしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)観念しませんでした(かんねんしませんでした)
Te form観念して(かんねんして)
Potential観念できる(かんねんできる)
Passive観念される(かんねんされる)
Causative観念させる(かんねんさせる)
Causative passive観念させられる(かんねんさせられる)
Conditional (ba)観念すれば(かんねんすれば)
tara観念したら(かんねんしたら)
Volitional観念しよう(かんねんしよう)
polite (mashou)観念しましょう(かんねんしましょう)
Imperative観念しろ(かんねんしろ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym概念がいねんWrittenWritten/formal: an abstracted concept or definition with a logical, academic flavor; 「観念」 instead stresses the awareness and ideas held in one's mind.
  • SynonymコンセプトNeutralA loanword for the core concept behind a product or plan; typical of design and business planning, unlike the general mental content of 「観念」.
  • Related考えかんがえNeutralThe everyday word for thoughts, opinions and ideas, the most common choice in daily use; 「観念」 is more abstract, a fixed notion held in the mind.
  • Related覚悟かくごNeutralMental preparedness and resolve, as in 「覚悟を決める」; the emphasis falls on determination, not on notions held in the mind.
  • Related断念だんねんWrittenWritten/formal: giving up a plan or hope, as in 「進学を断念する」; it stresses the active decision to abandon, not resigned acceptance.
  • Related諦めあきらめNeutralThe everyday noun for giving up or accepting defeat, common in speech; 「観念する」 leans more toward resigning yourself to fate.
  • Related諦観ていかんWrittenWritten/formal, with a Buddhist-philosophical tinge: seeing through to the essence of things, or serenely transcending and accepting fate.
  • Related諦念ていねんWrittenWritten/formal and literary, rare today: a mindset that has grasped the truth, or a feeling of resigned acceptance.
  • Antonym実体じったいWrittenWritten/formal: the actual, substantial existence of a thing; it stands opposed to 「観念」, which exists only in the mind.
  • Antonym現実げんじつNeutralObjective reality as opposed to notions in the head, as in 「現実を見る」; the natural antonym of 「観念」.

Use 「観念」 for fixed notions held in the mind or for resigning yourself to fate, as in 「時間の観念」 and 「観念しろ」. For academic concepts use 「概念」, for everyday thoughts 「考え」, for resolve 「覚悟」, and for giving up 「諦め」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. あらゆる対象たいしょうについて頭あたまの中なかにもっている意識いしきの内容ないよう。
  2. 物事ものごとに対たいする考かんがえ。
  3. 覚悟かくごして、諦あきらめること。
  4. 心こころ静しずかに智慧ちえによって一切いっさいを観察かんさつし思念しねんすること。
  5. 諦あきらめて覚悟かくごする。
  6. 心こころ静しずかに智慧ちえによって一切いっさいを観察かんさつし思念しねんする。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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