研磨(けんま)

けんま
noun
grinding; polishing
1. grinding; polishing; abrasion
The process of smoothing or shining a surface by rubbing it with an abrasive material. Used for metals, glass, gems, and other materials.
レンズを研磨(けんま)する。
To polish a lens.
金属(きんぞく)の表面(ひょうめん)を丁寧(ていねい)に研磨(けんま)した。
I carefully polished the metal surface.
床(ゆか)の大理石(だいりせき)は定期的(ていきてき)に研磨(けんま)しないと光沢(こうたく)を失(うしな)う。
The marble floor loses its luster if not polished regularly.
2. refinement; honing (of skills)
Used figuratively to describe the process of improving and perfecting one's skills or abilities through practice and effort.
技術(ぎじゅつ)を研磨(けんま)する。
To hone one's skills.
日々(ひび)の練習(れんしゅう)で感性(かんせい)を研磨(けんま)している。
I am refining my sensibility through daily practice.
若(わか)い頃(ころ)から腕(うで)を研磨(けんま)し続(つづ)けて、今(いま)では一流(いちりゅう)の職人(しょくにん)だ。
Having continuously honed his craft since he was young, he is now a first-rate artisan.

USAGE:
The verb form is 研磨(けんま)する. In the figurative sense (sense 2), the more common word is 研(みが)く or 磨(みが)く, but 研磨(けんま) adds a more deliberate, effortful nuance.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 研磨(けんま)剤(ざい) (abrasive, polishing compound)
  • 研磨(けんま)機(き) (grinder, polishing machine)
  • 技(わざ)を研磨(けんま)する (to hone a skill)

RELATED WORDS:

  • 磨(みが)く: to polish; to brush
  • 研(と)ぐ: to sharpen, to grind
  • 琢磨(たくま): polishing, improvement
general
Added 2026.3.6 22:50
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