一所懸命

いっしょけんめい

Meanings

1. Adverb, な-adjective, Noun very hard; with utmost effort; as hard as one can; with all one's might; for dear life; eagerly; desperately See also: 一生懸命 (いっしょうけんめい).
2. Noun (of a samurai) devoting oneself to (the defence of) one's territory

Kanji

• 一 one. Read as イチ.
• 所 place. Read as ショ.
• 懸 stake. Read as ケン.
• 命 life. Read as メイ.

Example sentences

• 一所懸命働いて彼は成功した。
  Hard work has brought him success.
• 一所懸命になって彼はその木に登った。
  With great effort he climbed up the tree.
• もし彼がもっと一所懸命に働いていたならば、彼は今では金持ちかもしれないのだが。
  If he had worked harder, he might be a rich man now.
• あなたは一所懸命働かないといけない。
  You need to work very hard.
• あなたが一所懸命働くことが必要だ。
  It is necessary for you to work hard.

Word lists

• Yojijukugo (四字熟語)

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists