篤(あつ)い

あつい
i-adjective
sincere; earnest; devout; serious (of illness)
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present篤(あつ)い篤(あつ)くない
Past篤(あつ)かった篤(あつ)くなかった
て form篤(あつ)くて篤(あつ)くなくて
Adverbial篤(あつ)く—
Conditional ば篤(あつ)ければ篤(あつ)くなければ
Conditional たら篤(あつ)かったら篤(あつ)くなかったら
1. sincere; earnest; devout; deeply felt
Describing faith, feelings, or hospitality that is deep, genuine, and heartfelt.
篤(あつ)い信仰(しんこう)を持(も)っている。
To have deep faith.
篤(あつ)い志(こころざし)で寄付(きふ)を続(つづ)けている。
He continues donating out of sincere devotion.
この地域(ちいき)の人々(ひとびと)は篤(あつ)いもてなしで知(し)られている。
The people of this area are known for their warm hospitality.
2. serious; critical (of illness)
Describing a severe or life-threatening state of illness. Used in the expression 危篤.
祖父(そふ)の病状(びょうじょう)が篤(あつ)い。
My grandfather's condition is serious.
危篤(きとく)の知(し)らせを受(う)けて病院(びょういん)に駆(か)けつけた。
I rushed to the hospital upon hearing that he was in critical condition.
篤(あつ)い病(やまい)に伏(ふ)している。
To be bedridden with a serious illness.

One of several あつい adjectives in Japanese, distinguished by its kanji 篤(あつ)い. This kanji specifically relates to sincerity, devotion, and severity of illness.

KANJI DISTINCTIONS (あつい):

  • 暑(あつ)い: hot (weather/air temperature)
  • 熱(あつ)い: hot (to the touch), passionate
  • 厚(あつ)い: thick, generous
  • 篤(あつ)い: sincere, earnest; serious (illness)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 篤(あつ)い信仰(しんこう): deep faith
  • 篤(あつ)い志(こころざし): sincere devotion
  • 篤(あつ)い病(やまい): serious illness
  • 危篤(きとく): critical condition (a compound using this kanji)

REGISTER:
Formal and literary. Sense 1 is found in formal writing and descriptions of character. Sense 2 appears in medical and news contexts, especially in the compound 危篤(きとく).

Related Words

Related: 厚(あつ)い
Related: 暑(あつ)い
Related: 熱(あつ)い
general
Added 2026.3.31 3:29
20500/20859_atsui