- isshoukenmei very hard, with utmost effort, as hard as one can, with all one's might, for dear life, eagerly, desperately
Use in casual or formal speech to describe doing one's absolute best, often in work, study, or challenges.
彼は一生懸命働いた。
Kare wa isshoukenmei hataraita.
He worked very hard.
一生懸命勉強します。
Isshoukenmei benkyou shimasu.
I will study with all my might.
⚖️ Often confused with 'ganbaru' (to do one's best), but 'isshoukenmei' emphasizes the intensity of effort, while 'ganbaru' focuses on the act of persevering.
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