真面目

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 彼は真面目に毎日練習しています。▶ —
   He practices diligently every day.
2. 真面目な話、これは大事な問題です。▶ —
   In all seriousness, this is an important issue.

Collocations

Mnemonic

真面目 majime — 真 (true) + 面 (face) + 目 (eye), read まじめ as a jukujikun (the whole-compound reading, like 田舎 in partial-5). A true (真) face (面目): seriousness, earnestness. A na-adjective: 真面目な人 (an earnest person). Adverb 真面目に (diligently). 真面目な話 = speaking seriously.

Quick check

1. The reading style of 真面目 matches which partial-5 word?

   • 田舎 (inaka, jukujikun)
   • 営業 (eigyou, on-yomi)
   • 比べる (kuraberu, kun-yomi)
   • 波 (nami, single kun)