真面目(まじめ)

まじめ
adjective (na-adjective)
serious; earnest; diligent
1. serious, earnest
Describes someone who takes things seriously and is sincere.
彼(かれ)は真面目(まじめ)な学生(がくせい)です。
He is a diligent/serious student.
Modifier usage
真面目(まじめ)に働(はたら)いてください。
Please work seriously/diligently.
Adverbial usage
真面目(まじめ)な顔(かお)で話(はな)す。
To speak with a serious face.
彼女(かのじょ)は真面目(まじめ)すぎる。
She is too serious.
Can have slightly negative nuance when excessive
真面目(まじめ)な話(はなし)、どうしたいの？
Seriously, what do you want to do?
真面目(まじめ)な話(はなし) = 'seriously speaking'
真面目(まじめ)に答(こた)えてください。
Please answer seriously.
真面目(まじめ)に考(かんが)えている。
I'm thinking about it seriously.
2. diligent, hardworking
Describes someone who works conscientiously and responsibly.
彼(かれ)は真面目(まじめ)な学生(がくせい)です。
He is a diligent/serious student.
Modifier usage
真面目(まじめ)に働(はたら)いてください。
Please work seriously/diligently.
Adverbial usage
真面目(まじめ)に勉強(べんきょう)する。
To study diligently.
真面目(まじめ)に取(と)り組(く)む。
To work on something earnestly.
彼(かれ)は真面目(まじめ)な社員(しゃいん)だ。
He is a diligent employee.
真面目(まじめ)にコツコツ働(はたら)く。
To work steadily and diligently.
3. honest, straightforward
Describes an honest and upright character.
真面目(まじめ)な性格(せいかく)だ。
They have an honest character.
真面目(まじめ)に生(い)きる。
To live an honest life.
真面目(まじめ)な人柄(ひとがら)で信頼(しんらい)されている。
They are trusted for their honest character.
真面目(まじめ)一筋(すじ)に生(い)きてきた。
I have lived a straightforward honest life.
彼(かれ)は真面目(まじめ)で嘘(うそ)をつかない人(ひと)だと皆(みんな)に思(おも)われている。
Everyone considers him an honest person who doesn't lie.

真面目(まじめ) is a na-adjective meaning 'serious,' 'earnest,' or 'diligent.'

Forms:

  • Adverbial: 真面目(まじめ)に
  • Modifier: 真面目(まじめ)な + noun

Conjugation:

  • Negative: 真面目(まじめ)ではない / 真面目(まじめ)じゃない
  • Te-form: 真面目(まじめ)で
  • Past: 真面目(まじめ)だった

Usage notes:

  • Generally positive, describing reliability and conscientiousness
  • Can have a slight negative nuance (boring, inflexible) when used with すぎる or in certain contexts
  • 真面目(まじめ)な話(はなし) means 'seriously speaking' or 'a serious matter'

Orthography: Often written in hiragana as まじめ, especially in casual contexts. The kanji 真面目(まじめ) is also common.

Common collocations: 真面目(まじめ)に取(と)り組(く)む (to work on earnestly), 真面目(まじめ)な性格(せいかく) (serious personality).

core
Added 2026.1.8 21:43 · Revised 2026.3.7 9:53
01000/01206_majime