懸 命(けんめい)

けんめい

na-adjective

strenuous, desperate, eager

1. desperate, strenuous, with all one's might

Putting maximum effort into something; trying one's hardest.

懸命(けんめい)に働(はたら)いて家族(かぞく)を養(やしな)っている。

I work hard to support my family.

彼(かれ)は一生(いっしょう)懸命(けんめい)勉強(べんきょう)した。

He studied with all his might.

懸命(けんめい)な努力(どりょく)が実(みの)った。

The strenuous efforts paid off.

子供(こども)たちは懸命(けんめい)に泳(およ)いでいた。

The children were swimming as hard as they could.

チームを応援(おうえん)するため、懸命(けんめい)に声(こえ)を張(は)り上(あ)げた。

I shouted with all my might to cheer for the team.

懸命(けんめい) means putting all one's effort into something.

Key expression:

一生(いっしょう)懸命(けんめい) (with all one's might, desperately)
Very common set phrase
Originally 一所(いっしょ)懸命(けんめい) (staking one's life on one place/position)

Common collocations:

懸命(けんめい)に働(はたら)く (to work desperately hard)
懸命(けんめい)な努力(どりょく) (strenuous efforts)
懸命(けんめい)に訴(うった)える (to appeal desperately)

Related terms:

必死(ひっし) (desperate, frantic)
全力(ぜんりょく) (full power, with all one's strength)
熱心(ねっしん) (eager, enthusiastic)

Related Words

Synonym: 必死(ひっし) (desperate, frantic)

Related: 一生懸命(いっしょうけんめい) (with all one's might)

Related: 全力(ぜんりょく) (full power, all one's strength)

Related: 熱心(ねっしん) (eager, enthusiastic)

core

Added 2026.1.13 21:17 · Revised 2026.6.16 0:20

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