The Meaning of isshōkenmei [一生懸命] In Japanese

一生懸命
いっしょうけんめい
Romaji: isshōkenmei N4

What does 一生懸命 mean?

Translation and Meaning

one’s lifetime, with utmost effort

Definition

A phrase meaning to exert oneself with all one’s energy; it describes performing a task with unwavering dedication and diligence, often used to express trying as hard as possible.

Type

expression (慣用句)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • emphasizes putting all one’s energy into a task
  • conveys wholehearted, diligent effort rather than a casual attempt
  • often used to describe study, work, sports, or crafts requiring persistence
  • can function as an adverbial modifier for verbs in sentences

Etymology

isshōkenmei is a compound formed by combining 一生 (いっしょう) lifetime and 懸命 (けんめい) earnest effort; in compounds the readings fuse to produce the common pronunciation.

Origin

Meiji period onward; usage spread widely in modern Japanese and everyday speech, reinforcing the notion of giving maximum effort in any task.

Composition

  • 一生 — lifetime, one’s entire life
  • 懸命 — earnest effort, with life at stake
  • Combination — devoting one’s life energy to a task; extreme effort

Usage

Used before verbs to describe how an action is performed; common in both casual and formal speech, with variants including 一生懸命に勉強する or 一生懸命勉強する, depending on style and emphasis.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a lifeline attached to the task; you pull with all your strength, as if your life depended on it, to finish the job.

Variations

  • 精一杯 (seiippai) — maximum effort
  • 全力を尽くす (zenryoku wo tsukusu) — to spare no effort
  • 全力投球 (zenryoku toukyuu) — give it your best shot

Example Phrases

  • 彼女は 一生懸命 勉強して 試験に 臨んだ。
    Kanojo wa isshoukenmei benkyou shite shiken ni nozonda.
    She studied diligently and faced the exam.
    Lista:
    • 彼女は (kanojo wa) – she
    • 一生懸命 (isshoukenmei) – diligently
    • 勉強して (benkyou shite) – studying
    • 試験に (shiken ni) – for the exam
    • 臨んだ (nozonda) – faced
    核心: 「一生懸命」 funciona como advérbio que modifica o verbo; neste contexto significa fazer algo com todo o esforço.
一生懸命