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
意気込む
ikigomu
to be enthusiastic about
N1
意向
ikou
intention, idea, inclination
N1
情熱
jounetsu
passion, enthusiasm, zeal
N1
不意
fui
sudden, abrupt, unexpected
N1
無意味
muimi
nonsense, no meaning
N2
意義
igi
meaning, significance
N2
加熱
kanetsu
heating
N2
生意気
namaiki
impertinent, impudent
N2
生意気な
namaikina
impertinent, saucy, cheeky, impudent, audacious, cocky, pert, brash