志
Meaning in Englishwill, intention, motive
Animated kanji stroke order
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Word context
What it means
志 denotes an inner motive to pursue a goal, signaling personal resolve and direction in both everyday speech and formal contexts.
Main meanings
- ambition or aspiration toward a long-term life goal
- personal mission or sense of duty guiding actions
- mental inclination or orientation toward a field, path, or purpose (志向)
- used in compounds such as 志望 and 志す to express aspiration or intention
How to use it
Used in formal writing, education, literature, and personal statements to express intention or life goals. It appears in compound forms such as 志望 (aspiration, application) and 志す (to aspire), and in names or vows denoting one’s mission or purpose.
Variants and close terms
- 志 (kokorozashi) — will, ambition
- 志望 (shibō) — aspiration, application
- 志気 (shiki) — morale, spirit
- 志向 (shikō) — orientation, inclination
Composition
- 士 over 心 — the top element suggesting merit or a person of resolve
- 心 — the heart, the source of inner intention
Etymology
Phonetic evolution The on'yomi shi (シ) comes from Chinese readings, while the kun'yomi kokorozashi reflects a native concept of heart-driven will. The kanji’s form aligns a determined mind with a heart-centered motive, highlighting intent over action.
Origin
In classical Japanese literature and courtly discourse, 志 appears as a concise term for one’s will, purpose, or vow. It gained prominence in samurai and educational settings, where personal resolve defined duty and life direction; Buddhist and Confucian philosophy further shaped its nuanced sense of intention and aim.
Word class
Noun (名詞)