真面目
まじめ
serious, diligent
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Examples
真面目な学生ですね。
まじめながくせいですね。
He is a diligent student.
彼女はとても真面目です。
かのじょはとてもまじめです。
She is very earnest.
毎日真面目に仕事をする人です。
まいにちまじめにしごとをするひとです。
He is someone who works conscientiously every day.
冗談ではなく、真面目な話です。
じょうだんではなく、まじめなはなしです。
This is not a joke; I am being serious.
Common patterns
- 真面目な人
- an earnest person
- 真面目に働く
- to work conscientiously
- 真面目な話
- a serious talk
Memory tip
Two senses: hard-working and earnest (always a compliment in Japanese), and serious as in not joking. The reading まじめ does not come from either kanji's usual readings, so learn it as a unit.
Kanji in this word
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What does 真面目 mean?