Word
志す
Meaning in Englishto plan, to intend, to aspire to
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
志す means to set one’s mind on a goal; to aspire to become something; to commit to a future path or role.
Main meanings
- to aspire to become someone, especially in a chosen profession or role
- to set one’s heart on a course or career and pursue it with determination
- to pledge, vow, or dedicate oneself to a duty or path in formal or literary style
How to use it
Used in formal, literary, or written Japanese to express pursuit of a future goal; used with a direct object representing the target role or field (e.g., 医師を志す). It is less common in casual speech, where one might use 目指す or になりたい.
Variants and close terms
- 目指す (mezasu) — to aim for
- 志望する (shibou suru) — to aspire to, to wish to enter or join
- 決意する (ketsui suru) — to resolve, to commit to
Composition
- 志 = will, aspiration, intention
- す = verb suffix turning the noun into a verb
Etymology
志 (will, intention) + す (verb suffix)
Word class
Verb (五段動詞)