Meaning and Usage
"懸命" (けんめい) means doing something with great effort, eagerness, or earnestness. It often implies a strong determination or desperation to achieve a goal.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see "懸命に" used as an adverb to describe actions done with intense effort, such as studying, working, or trying to solve a problem.
Collocations and Patterns
- 懸命に + verb (e.g., 懸命に勉強する): to do something earnestly or desperately
- 懸命な + noun (e.g., 懸命な努力): strenuous or earnest effort
Register and Nuance
"懸命" is somewhat formal and often used in written or polite contexts. It conveys a positive sense of dedication but can also imply urgency or necessity.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "懸命" with "必死" (ひっし), which also means desperate effort. "必死" often has a stronger nuance of desperation or life-or-death urgency, while "懸命" is more about earnest, diligent effort.