使命感

• Reading: しめいかん
• Romaji: shimeikan
• Kanji breakdown: 使 (shi) — to use, to send; 命 (mei/inochi) — life, order, mission; 感 (kan) — feeling, sense
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.me.i.ka.ɴ/

Meaning

Sense of mission; sense of duty. A strong internal feeling that one has an important purpose or obligation to fulfil.

A compound noun combining 使命 (shimei, 'mission') and 感 (kan, 'feeling/sense'). It describes the psychological drive that compels a person to act on a perceived duty. It is frequently used in professional, political, or philosophical contexts to describe motivation beyond self-interest.

Examples

1. 彼女は強い使命感を持って医療の現場に立っている。 She stands on the front lines of medicine with a strong sense of mission.
2. 使命感がなければ、この過酷な仕事は続けられない。 Without a sense of mission, you can't keep going in such a grueling job.
3. 若い世代に使命感を育むことが教育の役割だと思う。 I believe it's the role of education to cultivate a sense of mission in the younger generation.

Usage Guide

Context: professional life, education, politics

Tone: earnest

Origin & History

A modern compound: 使命 derives from classical Chinese meaning 'a task one is sent to accomplish,' and 感 means 'feeling.' The combination is a Japanese formation reflecting the Meiji-era emphasis on national duty.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji period onwards

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal