意志・態度

彼かれは会社かいしゃを辞やめて留学りゅうがくする決意けついを固かためた。

He made up his mind to quit his job and study abroad.

Usage 決意 is a firm decision you commit to: 決意を固める (firm up your resolve), 決意する, 新年の決意 (New Year's resolution). 決心 (けっしん) is very close but more everyday.

Remember it 決 (to decide) + 意 (will, mind) → a mind that has decided.

この仕事しごとは厳しいきびしいと覚悟かくごしていた。

I was prepared for this job to be tough.

Usage 覚悟 is bracing yourself for something hard: 覚悟する, 覚悟ができている (be ready for the worst), 覚悟を決める. 決意 is deciding to act; 覚悟 is accepting what's coming.

Remember it 覚 (to awaken) + 悟 (to realize) → waking up to what lies ahead and accepting it.

彼女かのじょは自分じぶんの信念しんねんを曲まげずに最後さいごまで戦たたかった。

She fought to the end without bending her convictions.

Usage 信念 is a deeply held conviction: 信念を持つ, 信念を貫く (stick to your convictions), 強い信念. 信仰 (しんこう) is religious faith.

Remember it 信 (to believe) + 念 (thought) → a thought you truly believe.

仕事しごとに対たいする前向まえむきな姿勢しせいが評価ひょうかされた。

My positive attitude toward work was appreciated.

Usage 姿勢 is both physical posture and attitude: 姿勢がいい (good posture), 姿勢を正す (sit up straight), 前向きな姿勢 (a positive stance), 学ぶ姿勢 (willingness to learn).

Remember it 姿 (figure, appearance) + 勢 (force) → the shape and force of how you hold yourself.

相手あいての意図いとが分わからず、どう答こたえればいいか迷まよった。

I couldn't tell what the other person was getting at, so I wasn't sure how to answer.

Usage 意図 is the intention behind something: 意図的に (on purpose), 意図がある, 意図を読み取る (read someone's intentions). つもり is the everyday 'intend to'.

Remember it 意 (mind) + 図 (plan, drawing) → the plan drawn in someone's mind.

最近さいきんは健康けんこう志向しこうの食品しょくひんがよく売うれている。

Health-oriented foods have been selling well recently.

Usage 志向 is being oriented toward something, often as a suffix: 健康志向 (health-conscious), 上昇志向 (upwardly mobile), ブランド志向. Don't confuse it with 思考 (しこう, thinking).

Remember it 志 (aspiration) + 向 (to face toward) → aspirations facing one way.

彼かれは社長しゃちょうになるという野心やしんを持もっている。

He has ambitions of becoming company president.

Usage 野心 is ambition, often with a hint of ruthlessness: 野心家 (an ambitious person), 野心的な計画 (an ambitious plan). 大志 (たいし) is lofty ambition, purely positive.

Remember it 野 (wild field) + 心 (heart) → a wild heart that wants more.

社会人しゃかいじんとしての自覚じかくを持もって行動こうどうしてほしい。

I want you to act with an awareness of your responsibilities as a working adult.

Usage 自覚 is being aware of your own role or condition: 自覚がある, 自覚が足りない, 自覚症状 (symptoms you notice yourself). It often implies responsibility.

Remember it 自 (self) + 覚 (to become aware) → becoming aware of yourself.

怒おこりそうになったが、何なんとか自制じせいした。

I was about to lose my temper, but I somehow held myself back.

Usage 自制 is self-restraint: 自制する, 自制心 (self-control), 自制がきかない (can't control yourself). 我慢 (がまん) is enduring something unpleasant.

Remember it 自 (self) + 制 (to restrain) → restraining yourself.

彼女かのじょは大胆だいたんなデザインで注目ちゅうもくを集あつめた。

She drew attention with a bold design.

Usage 大胆 = bold, daring: 大胆な行動, 大胆に変える (change boldly). It is often positive; 無謀 (むぼう) is reckless. Its opposite is 臆病 (おくびょう, timid).

Remember it 大 (big) + 胆 (gallbladder, courage) → a big gallbladder, the old seat of courage.

真剣しんけんに話はなしているのに、笑わらわないでください。

I'm talking seriously, so please don't laugh.

Usage 真剣 = serious, in earnest: 真剣に考える, 真剣な顔, 真剣勝負 (a real, all-out contest). 真面目 (まじめ) describes a person's steady character; 真剣 describes how intensely you're engaging right now.

Remember it 真 (real) + 剣 (sword) → a real sword, not a wooden one. Deadly serious.

彼女かのじょは勉強べんきょうに熱心ねっしんで、毎日まいにち遅おそくまで図書館としょかんにいる。

She's dedicated to her studies and stays at the library until late every day.

Usage 熱心 takes に for what you are keen about: 勉強に熱心だ. Note the small tsu: ねっしん. 熱心に働く = to work devotedly.

Remember it 熱 (heat) + 心 (heart) → a hot heart for something.

新あたらしい靴くつを見みて、買かいたい衝動しょうどうを抑おさえられなかった。

When I saw the new shoes, I couldn't hold back the urge to buy them.

Usage 衝動 = impulse, urge: 衝動に駆られる (be driven by an impulse), 衝動買い (impulse buying), 衝動的 (impulsive).

Remember it 衝 (to thrust, collide) + 動 (to move) → a sudden thrust that moves you.

強いつよい欲求よっきゅうを抑えるおさえることは難しいむずかしい。

It's hard to suppress strong desires.

Usage 欲求 is a desire or need, often in psychology: 欲求を満たす (satisfy a need), 承認欲求 (the need for approval), 欲求不満 (frustration). 欲望 (よくぼう) is greedier desire.

Remember it 欲 (to want) + 求 (to seek) → wanting and seeking.

新あたらしい制度せいどに抵抗ていこうを感かんじる社員しゃいんも多おおい。

Many employees feel resistant to the new system.

Usage 抵抗 is resistance: 抵抗する, 〜に抵抗がある (feel reluctant about), 抵抗感, 空気抵抗 (air resistance). 反抗 (はんこう) is defiance, like a rebellious teen.

Remember it 抵 (to resist, push against) + 抗 (to oppose) → pushing back against.

両者りょうしゃは妥協だきょうして合意ごういに達したっした。

Both sides compromised and reached an agreement.

Usage 妥協 = compromise: 妥協する, 妥協点 (middle ground), 妥協しない (uncompromising). It can sound like settling for less: 妥協せずに作った料理.

Remember it 妥 (calm, appropriate) + 協 (to cooperate) → settling on something both can live with.

交渉こうしょうの結果けっか、相手あいてが価格かかくで譲歩じょうほした。

As a result of the negotiations, the other side made a concession on price.

Usage 譲歩 is a concession, giving ground: 譲歩する, 譲歩を引き出す (extract a concession). In grammar, 譲歩 is concessive, as in 〜ても and 〜にしても.

Remember it 譲 (to yield) + 歩 (step) → yielding a step.

母ははは我慢強がまんづよい人ひとで、弱音よわねを吐はいたことがない。

My mother is very resilient and has never complained.

Usage 我慢強い = patient, able to endure a lot: 我慢強い性格. 我慢する means to put up with something. The ending 〜強い means strong in: 粘り強い (tenacious).

Remember it 我慢 (endurance) + 強い (strong) → strong at enduring.

この作業さぎょうは根気こんきがいるが、慣なれれば楽たのしい。

This work takes patience, but once you get used to it, it's fun.

Usage 根気 is patience for steady, repetitive effort: 根気がいる (takes patience), 根気よく続ける (keep at it patiently). 根性 is guts in the face of hardship.

Remember it 根 (root) + 気 (spirit) → spirit with deep roots that keeps going.

最近さいきん泥棒どろぼうが多おおいので、用心ようじんしたほうがいい。

There have been a lot of burglaries lately, so you'd better be careful.

Usage 用心 is taking precautions: 用心する, 火の用心 (beware of fire, a traditional winter night call), 用心深い (cautious), 用心棒 (bodyguard).

Remember it 用 (to use) + 心 (heart, attention) → putting your attention to use.

油断ゆだんしていたら、最後さいごに逆転ぎゃくてんされてしまった。

I let my guard down, and they came from behind to beat me at the end.

Usage 油断 is letting your guard down: 油断する, 油断大敵 (carelessness is your worst enemy), 油断も隙もない (you can't relax for a second).

Remember it 油 (oil) + 断 (to cut off) → cutting off the lamp oil. The light goes out and you're caught unprepared.

毎朝まいあさ早はやく起おきるように努つとめている。

I'm making an effort to get up early every morning.

Usage 努める = to make an effort: 〜ように努める. It sounds more formal than 頑張る. Don't confuse it with 勤める (work at a company) or 務める (serve in a role), also read つとめる.

Remember it 努 (effort: 奴 servant + 力 strength) → working as hard as a servant.

彼かれは毎日まいにち練習れんしゅうに励はげんでいる。

He works hard at his practice every day.

Usage 励む = to work hard at: 〜に励む, 仕事に励む, 勉強に励む. The related 励ます (はげます) means to encourage someone else.

Remember it 厂 (cliff) + 万 + 力 (strength) → putting ten thousand strengths into climbing a cliff.

何度なんど失敗しっぱいしても、夢ゆめを諦あきらめるつもりはない。

No matter how many times I fail, I have no intention of giving up on my dream.

Usage 諦める = to give up on: 夢を諦める. It can also mean accepting what can't be changed. やめる is simply stopping an activity.

Remember it 言 (words) + 帝 (emperor) → when the emperor has spoken, you accept it and give up.

周まわりに反対はんたいされても、彼かれは自分じぶんの考かんがえを貫つらぬいた。

Even though people around him opposed it, he stuck to his beliefs.

Usage 貫く means to pierce through, and figuratively to hold to something to the end: 信念を貫く, 初志を貫く (stick to your original goal). 一貫 (いっかん) = consistent.

Remember it 毌 (a string of coins) + 貝 (shell, money) → a string driven right through coins.

先輩せんぱいの仕事しごとの仕方しかたを見習みならいたい。

I want to follow my senior colleague's example in how they work.

Usage 見習う = to learn by copying someone: 先輩を見習う. 見習い (みならい) is an apprentice or trainee: 見習い期間 (probation period).

Remember it 見る (to watch) + 習う (to learn) → learning by watching.

健康けんこうのために、野菜やさいを多おおく食たべるよう心掛こころがけている。

For my health, I make a point of eating a lot of vegetables.

Usage 心掛ける = to make a point of, keep in mind: 〜ように心掛ける. The noun 心掛け means attitude or mindset: 日頃の心掛け (everyday mindfulness).

Remember it 心 (heart) + 掛ける (to hang) → hanging something on your heart so you don't forget.

会社かいしゃ全体ぜんたいで環境かんきょう問題もんだいに取とり組くんでいる。

The whole company is working on environmental issues.

Usage 取り組む = to tackle or work seriously on: 〜に取り組む, 課題に取り組む. The noun 取り組み means an initiative: 新しい取り組み.

Remember it 取る (to take) + 組む (to grapple) → grabbing hold and grappling with it, like sumo wrestlers.

彼かれは学生がくせい時代じだい、野球やきゅうに打うち込こんでいた。

In his student days, he threw himself into baseball.

Usage 打ち込む = to devote yourself to: 〜に打ち込む, 研究に打ち込む. Literally it means to drive in or type in: データを打ち込む (enter data).

Remember it 打つ (to strike) + 込む (into) → striking yourself deep into something.

彼女かのじょは料理りょうりに対たいして強つよい情熱じょうねつを持もっている。

She has a strong passion for cooking.

Usage 情熱 = passion: 情熱を注ぐ (pour your passion into), 情熱的な (passionate). 熱意 (ねつい) is zeal or enthusiasm for a task.

Remember it 情 (feeling) + 熱 (heat) → heated feeling.

疲つかれすぎて、何なにかをする気力きりょくがない。

I'm so tired I don't have the energy to do anything.

Usage 気力 is mental energy or willpower: 気力がない, 気力で乗り切る (get through on sheer willpower). 体力 (たいりょく) is physical stamina.

Remember it 気 (spirit) + 力 (power) → the power of your spirit.

嘘うそをついて、良心りょうしんが痛いたんだ。

I told a lie, and my conscience hurt.

Usage 良心 = conscience: 良心が痛む (feel a pang of conscience), 良心的 (fair, honest, as in 良心的な値段, a fair price). Don't confuse with 両親 (りょうしん, parents).

Remember it 良 (good) + 心 (heart) → the good heart inside you.

急きゅうな値上ねあげに、消費者しょうひしゃから反発はんぱつの声こえが上あがった。

The sudden price rise drew backlash from consumers.

Usage 反発 is pushback or backlash: 反発する, 反発を招く (provoke a backlash). Physically it means repulsion, as with magnets. 反対 is simply opposing.

Remember it 反 (against) + 発 (to fire off) → firing back against.

この犬いぬは飼かい主ぬしにとても従順じゅうじゅんだ。

This dog is very obedient to its owner.

Usage 従順 = obedient, docile: 従順な性格, 〜に従順だ. It can sound passive when said of people. 素直 (すなお) is more positive: open and honest.

Remember it 従 (to follow) + 順 (in order, docile) → following along in order.

私わたしは内向的ないこうてきな性格せいかくで、一人ひとりの時間じかんが好すきだ。

I'm an introvert and I like having time to myself.

Usage 内向的 = introverted: 内向的な性格. Its opposite is 外向的. In casual speech, 内気 (shy) or 人見知り (shy with strangers) are more common.

Remember it 内 (inward) + 向 (facing) + 的 → facing inward.

彼かれは外向的がいこうてきで、どこへ行いってもすぐ友達ともだちができる。

He's outgoing and makes friends quickly wherever he goes.

Usage 外向的 = extroverted: 外向的な人. Its opposite is 内向的. 社交的 (sociable) is the more everyday word.

Remember it 外 (outward) + 向 (facing) + 的 → facing outward.

彼かれは神経質しんけいしつで、小ちいさな音おとでも目めが覚さめてしまう。

He's so highly strung that even a small noise wakes him up.

Usage 神経質 = nervous, fussy, highly strung: 神経質な人, 神経質になる. 几帳面 (meticulous) is its positive cousin; 神経質 suggests anxiety.

Remember it 神経 (nerves) + 質 (nature) → a nature ruled by nerves.

楽観的らっかんてきに考えるかんがえることで、困難こんなんを乗り越えのりこえられる。

By thinking optimistically, you can overcome difficulties.

Usage Note the small tsu: らっかんてき, not らくかんてき. ことで = by means of doing. 乗り越える (のりこえる) = to overcome, literally to ride over.

Remember it 楽 (ease, pleasure) + 観 (to view) + 的 → viewing things the easy way.

悲観的ひかんてきになりすぎると、チャンスを逃してのがしてしまう。

If you become too pessimistic, you'll let opportunities slip by.

Usage The mirror of 楽観的, built on 悲 (sorrow) instead of 楽 (ease). すぎる = to do something excessively, 逃す (のがす) = to let slip.

Remember it 悲 (sorrow) + 観 (to view) + 的 → viewing things sorrowfully.

店みせでは衛生えいせい管理かんりを徹底てっていしている。

The restaurant is thorough about hygiene.

Usage 徹底 = thoroughness: 徹底する, 徹底的に (thoroughly), 徹底した管理 (strict control). 完全 (かんぜん) is complete or perfect.

Remember it 徹 (to pierce through) + 底 (bottom) → going right through to the bottom.