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
N3
得意
tokui
pride, triumph, prosperity
N3
熱帯
nettai
tropics
N3
熱中
necchuu
enthusiasm, zeal, mania
N4
熱心
nesshin
enthusiasm, dedication, earnestness
N4
熱
netsu
fever, temperature, heat
N4
用意
youi
preparation, readiness
N4
意見
iken
opinion, view, idea
N4
注意
chuui
attention, caution, warning
N5
熱い
atsui
hot to touch