真心

まごころ

sincerity, devotion

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"真心" (zhēnxīn) literally means "true heart" and is used to express sincerity, genuine feelings, or heartfelt intentions. It often appears in contexts where someone wants to emphasize honesty or deep emotional commitment.

Common Contexts

It is frequently used in expressions of gratitude, apologies, or declarations of feelings to highlight that the speaker is being genuine and not superficial.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 真心感谢 (zhēnxīn gǎnxiè): sincerely thank
  • 真心 (zhēnxīn huà): sincere words, truth
  • 真心 (yòng zhēnxīn): to use sincerity, to treat sincerely

Nuances

Using 真心 implies a strong emotional authenticity and is more emphatic than simply saying "诚实" (honest). It is often used in personal or emotional contexts rather than formal or legal ones.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse 真心 with (heart) alone or with , which also means sincerity but is slightly more formal and less emotional.

Example Sentences

I sincerely thank you for your help.

What he said is sincere, without any falsehood.

She treats every friend with sincerity.