The Meaning of kenkyū [研究] In Japanese

研究
けんきゅう
Romaji: kenkyū N3

What does 研究 mean?

Translation and Meaning

research, study

Definition

What does 研究 mean? It denotes the systematic pursuit of new knowledge through careful inquiry and analysis; in Japanese it’s used for both the act of researching and the body of research produced by scholars, and it commonly appears in phrases with する to form ‘to research’.

Type

Noun (名詞); Suru-verb (サ変動詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Primary meaning as a noun: the activity of researching and the field of inquiry
  • Expanded usage in academic and scientific contexts
  • Common compounds: 研究者, 研究所, 研究費

Etymology

Phonology kenkyū is the standard on’yomi reading of 研究; the kanji 研 and 究 have on’yomi readings ケン and キュウ, which combine in the compound to express refined inquiry; historically the characters contribute semantic hints of sharpening and investigation to the overall meaning.

Origin

Origin in Japanese scholarship traces back to the introduction of Chinese characters and scholarly tradition; mentions appear in classical writings and Buddhist and Confucian learning, with modern Meiji-era usage establishing 研究 as a formal term for organized inquiry and scientific study.

Composition

  • 研: to sharpen, refine; implies improving knowledge through careful effort
  • 究: to investigate, seek, and determine; conveys the search for a definitive answer

Usage

Used in formal academic writing, institutional reports, and research settings; common in phrases with する to mean conducting research; in everyday discourse it appears in conversations about studies, projects, and academic work. Examples: 新しい治療法の研究を進める。研究成果を発表する。
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine sharpening a pencil while probing a question; the act of sharpening your inquiry helps you remember that 研究 means rigorous, purposeful investigation.

Variations

  • 学術研究 (がくじゅつけんきゅう, gakujutsu kenkyū) – formal scholarly research
  • 科学研究 (かがくけんきゅう, kagaku kenkyū) – scientific research
  • 調査 (ちょうさ, chōsa) – investigation

Example Phrases

  • 私の所属は今、研究グループの一員です。
    Watashi no shōzoku wa ima, kenkyū gurūpu no ichiin desu.
    I am currently affiliated with the research group.
    Lista:
    • 私の所属は (Watashi no shōzoku wa) – my affiliation
    • 今 (ima) – now
    • 研究グループの (kenkyū gurūpu no) – of the research group
    • 一員です (ichiin desu) – is a member
    The noun 「所属」 means affiliation or membership; in this sentence it marks the speaker’s group membership and is the topic of the sentence when followed by は.
  • 助教授 が 研究室で 新しい 実験を 説明した。
    Jokyouju ga kenkyuushitsu de atarashii jikken o setsumei shita.
    The associate professor explained a new experiment in the lab.
    Lista:
    • 助教授 (jokyouju) – associate professor
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • 研究室で (kenkyuushitsu de) – in the lab
    • 新しい (atarashii) – new
    • 実験を (jikken o) – the experiment
    • 説明した (setsumei shita) – explained
    The word 「助教授」 functions as the subject marked by が.
  • 私は 大学の 研究室で 助手として 忙しく 働いている。
    Watashi wa daigaku no kenkyūshitsu de joshu toshite isogashiku hataraite iru.
    I am busy working as an assistant in a university laboratory.
    Lista:
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I (topic)
    • 大学の (daigaku no) – university’s
    • 研究室で (kenkyūshitsu de) – in the lab
    • 助手として (joshu toshite) – as an assistant
    • 忙しく (isogashiku) – busily
    • 働いている (hataraite iru) – am working
    In this sentence, 助手 means 「assistant」; 助手として marks the role/capacity, i.e., the phrase 「助手として」 means ‘as an assistant’.
  • 研究を進めるため、私は図書館で資料を探した。
    kenkyū o susumeru tame, watashi wa toshokan de shiryō o sagashita.
    To advance my research, I looked for materials at the library.
    Lista:
    • 研究 (kenkyū) – research
    • を (wo) – object marker
    • 進める (susumeru) – to advance
    • ため (tame) – for the purpose of
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • 図書館で (toshokan de) – at the library
    • 資料を (shiryō o) – materials (object)
    • 探した (sagashita) – searched
    Core grammar: 「研究」 is the direct object with を in 研究を進める, meaning ‘to advance research’.
研究