一生懸命

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Japanese

Kanji in this term
いつ > いっ
Grade: 1
しょう
Grade: 1
けん
Grade: S
めい
Grade: 3
on'yomi

Etymology

Yojijukugo (四字熟語), from 一所懸命(いっしょけんめい) (isshokenmei), which referred to samurais risking their life to defend the territory inherited from ancestors.

Pronunciation

Adverb

(いっ)(しょう)(けん)(めい) (isshōkenmeiいつしやうけんめい (itusyaukenmei)?

  1. for dear life; as hard as one can; to the best of one's ability
    (いっ)(しょう)(けん)(めい)(がん)()
    isshōkenmei ganbaru
    to try one's utmost hardest

References

  1. ^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN