観念(かんねん)

かんねん
noun, suru-verb
idea, concept, notion; resignation
1. idea, concept, notion
An abstract thought or general understanding about something.
時間(じかん)の観念(かんねん)がない人(ひと)は困(こま)る。
People with no sense of time are troublesome.
固定(こてい)観念(かんねん)にとらわれてはいけない。
You shouldn't be bound by fixed ideas.
道徳(どうとく)観念(かんねん)が薄(うす)れてきたと言(い)われている。
It's said that moral consciousness has been weakening.
2. resignation, acceptance of one's fate
The act of giving up and accepting an inevitable outcome.
もう逃(に)げられない、観念(かんねん)しろ。
You can't escape anymore. Give up.
犯人(はんにん)はついに観念(かんねん)して自首(じしゅ)した。
The criminal finally gave up and turned himself in.
もう遅(おそ)いと観念(かんねん)して帰(かえ)ることにした。
I accepted that it was too late and decided to go home.

USAGE: 観念(かんねん) has two distinct meanings depending on context.

SENSE 1 - CONCEPT:

  • 時間(じかん)の観念(かんねん) (sense of time)
  • 固定(こてい)観念(かんねん) (fixed idea, preconception)
  • 先入観(せんにゅうかん)/観念(かんねん) (preconceived notion)
  • 道徳(どうとく)観念(かんねん) (moral sense)

SENSE 2 - RESIGNATION:

  • 観念(かんねん)する (to give up, resign oneself)
  • 観念(かんねん)しろ (Give up! - imperative)

PHILOSOPHICAL USE: In philosophy, 観念(かんねん) translates 'idea' in the philosophical sense (e.g., 観念論(かんねんろん) = idealism).

RELATED:

  • 概念(がいねん) - concept (more formal/technical)
  • 考(かんが)え - thought, idea (more casual)
general
Added 2026.1.13 21:42 · Revised 2026.3.3 11:56
04000/04125_kannen