諦める

• Reading: あきらめる
• Romaji: akirameru
• Kanji breakdown: 諦 (tai/tei/akirame) — give up, resign, truth (Buddhist)
• Pronunciation: /a.ki.ɾa.me.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To give up; to abandon hope; to resign oneself to. Accepting that a goal or wish cannot be achieved.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb. Often used in negative forms for encouragement: 諦めないで (don't give up), 諦めずに (without giving up). The noun form 諦め (acceptance, resignation) also exists. Carries a nuance of accepting reality rather than simply quitting.

Examples

1. 難しくても最後まで諦めないでください。 Please don't give up, even if it's difficult.
2. 夢を諦めるのはまだ早いですよ。 It's too soon to give up on your dream.
3. 何度失敗しても諦めずに挑戦した。 No matter how many times I failed, I kept trying without giving up.

Usage Guide

Context: encouragement, sports, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Borrowed from Buddhist terminology. The kanji 諦 originally meant truth or enlightenment in Buddhist philosophy. The verb evolved to mean accepting reality and letting go of attachment.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal