Meaning and Usage
"一生懸命" (いっしょうけんめい) means to do something with one's utmost effort or very hard. It is often used to describe working, studying, or trying hard at any task.
Common Contexts
You will hear this word in everyday conversation when someone wants to emphasize their dedication or effort. It can be used with verbs like 勉強する (to study), 働く (to work), or 遊ぶ (to play).
Collocations and Patterns
- 一生懸命に + verb: emphasizes doing the action with full effort.
- 一生懸命働く: to work very hard.
- 一生懸命勉強する: to study very hard.
Register and Nuance
This phrase is polite and neutral, suitable for both casual and formal situations. It conveys sincerity and strong effort.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 一生懸命 with just "hard" or "fast". Remember it means "with utmost effort," not speed. Also, it is usually used adverbially with に or as an adverbial phrase before verbs.