一生懸命

• Reading: いっしょうけんめい
• Romaji: isshoukenmei
• Kanji breakdown: 一 (ichi) — one; 生 (shou/sei) — life; 懸 (ken/ka) — hang, suspend; 命 (mei/inochi) — life, fate
• Pronunciation: /iɕ.ɕo.ɯ.keɴ.me.i/

Meaning

Very hard; with utmost effort; with all one's might. Describes putting maximum effort into something.

Functions as an adverb, na-adjective, and noun. 一生懸命勉強する (study with all one's might), 一生懸命な人 (a hardworking person). Originally 一所懸命 (issho kenmei, staking one's life on one's land), the modern form 一生懸命 reinterprets 一所 (one place) as 一生 (one's whole life) — intensifying the meaning to staking one's entire life.

Examples

1. 試験のために一生懸命勉強しています。 I'm studying as hard as I can for the exam.
2. 彼は一生懸命働いて家族を支えている。 He works with all his might to support his family.
3. 子供たちは一生懸命走っていた。 The children were running as hard as they could.

Usage Guide

Context: effort, work, study

Tone: positive

Origin & History

Originally 一所懸命 — a samurai term meaning to stake one's life on defending one's territory. 一所 (one place) shifted to 一生 (one's whole life), broadening the meaning from land defence to any wholehearted effort.

Cultural Context

Era: Medieval

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal