Word
熱意
Meaning in Englishzeal, enthusiasm
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
熱意 means a strong, sincere eagerness to pursue a goal or task; it describes a person's inner drive and commitment that energizes effort and perseverance.
Main meanings
- Strong motivation and passion toward a goal or activity.
- A visible or reported commitment, energy, and purpose in work, study, or advocacy.
- A positive mental attitude reflected in proactive effort and perseverance.
How to use it
Used in formal, semi-formal, and neutral contexts to describe genuine motivation; it conveys sustained commitment rather than fleeting feelings and is common in discussions of study, projects, campaigns, and work efforts; typical patterns describe possessing or displaying motivation rather than simply feeling excited.
Variants and close terms
- 情熱 (じょうねつ, jounetsu) — passion
- 熱心さ (ねっしんさ, nesshin-sa) — keenness
- 無関心 (むかんしん, mukanshin) — indifference
Composition
- 熱: heat, warmth; here conveys intensity of feeling or energy rather than physical temperature
- 意: mind, intention, will; indicates a mental aspect of attitude
Origin
The term arose from the combination of 熱 and 意 in native Japanese usage and is attested in classical and modern texts, becoming common in education, business, and media to describe sustained motivation.
Word class
Noun (名詞)
Related words by kanji and components
N1
好意
koui
good will, favor, courtesy
N1
合意
goui
agreement, consent, mutual understanding
N1
光熱費
kounetsuhi
cost of fuel and light
N1
決意
ketsui
decision, determination
N1
熱湯
nettou
boiling water
N1
熱量
netsuryou
calorific value
N1
意図
ito
intention, aim, design
N1
意欲
iyoku
will, desire, ambition
N1
同意
doui
agreement, consent; same meaning