Word
熱心
Meaning in Englishenthusiasm, dedication, earnestness
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
熱心 means being enthusiastic or deeply eager about something. It describes a strong, active interest and dedication toward a task or goal, and is used as a na-adjective to describe people or attitudes (熱心な).
Main meanings
- zeal toward a task or subject
- ardent dedication or strong interest
- as 熱心な, describing a person or attitude
- 熱心に to do something with zeal
How to use it
Used in formal and casual contexts. As a description of a person, 熱心な + noun is common; to describe actions, use 熱心に + verb. Examples (in Japanese): 熱心な研究者 (nesshin na kenkyusha); 熱心に取り組む; 彼は熱心だ.
Variants and close terms
- 情熱的な (jounetsuteki na) — passionate
- 真剣な (shinken na) — earnest
- 熱意がある (netsui ga aru) — to have enthusiasm
- 無関心 (mukanshin) — indifference
- 冷淡な (reikan na) — indifferent
Composition
- 熱: heat, warmth, passion
- 心: heart, mind
- 合成: combined to express a heated heart, metaphorically a state of ardor or zeal
Word class
na-adjective (形容動詞)
Related words by kanji and components
N1
心中
shinjuu
double suicide
N1
真心
magokoro
sincerity, devotion
N1
野心
yashin
ambition, aspiration
N1
良心
ryoushin
conscience
N2
加熱
kanetsu
heating
N2
苦心
kushin
pain, trouble
N2
心当たり
kokoroatari
having some knowledge of, happening to know
N2
心得る
kokoroeru
to understand, to have thorough knowledge
N2
心身
shinshin
mind and body