1.
seriousness; earnestness; diligence
The quality of being serious, honest, and hardworking. Formed by adding the nominalizing suffix さ to the na-adjective 真面目. Generally positive, highlighting reliability and conscientiousness.
彼の真面目さは信頼できる。
His seriousness is trustworthy.
真面目さだけでは成功できない。
You can't succeed on earnestness alone.
仕事に対する真面目さが認められて昇進した。
Her diligence toward work was recognized and she was promoted.
Formed from 真面目 (serious, earnest) + さ (nominalizer that turns adjectives into abstract nouns expressing degree or quality). This is a productive pattern in Japanese: 優しさ (gentleness), 強さ (strength), etc.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 真面目さが取り柄: seriousness is one's strong point
- 真面目さが裏目に出る: one's earnestness backfires
- 真面目さを買う: to value someone's seriousness
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 誠実さ: sincerity, integrity — broader moral quality; emphasizes honesty and trustworthiness
- 勤勉さ: diligence, industriousness — focuses specifically on hard work and study
- 真剣さ: seriousness, intensity — emphasizes being serious about a specific task or situation