Translation guide
Ways to express persistence, perseverance, and not giving up in Japanese, from everyday encouragement to formal descriptions of tenacity.
Expressing the idea of persisting in an action or effort without quitting, often in a positive or encouraging sense.
Literally 'not give up'. A very common and natural way to express persistence in everyday speech.
彼は最後まで諦めなかった。
He persisted until the very end.
諦めないで続けてください。
Please keep going without giving up.
Describing something that persists over time, such as a problem, tradition, or condition.
Continuation or sustainability. Used for both positive and negative situations.
Expressing persistence in a negative sense, such as stubbornness or annoying insistence.
根気 (konki) is about steady, patient effort toward a goal, like studying. 忍耐 (nintai) is more about enduring hardship or suffering without complaint. Use 根気 for active persistence, 忍耐 for passive endurance.
毎日練習するには根気がいる。
It takes persistence to practice every day.
痛みに耐える忍耐力。
The persistence to endure pain.
The English word 'persistence' covers many nuances. Direct translations like 固執 (koshu, 'adherence') or 永続 (eizoku, 'permanence') are often too stiff or have different connotations. Choose the expression based on whether you mean 'not giving up', 'lasting a long time', or 'being annoyingly insistent'.
彼の粘り強さが報われた。
His persistence paid off.
成功の鍵は諦めないことだ。
Persistence is the key to success.
An adjective meaning 'tenacious' or 'persistent'. Describes a person's character or attitude.
彼女は粘り強い交渉で契約を勝ち取った。
She won the contract through persistent negotiation.
Patience and perseverance. Often used in contexts requiring steady, long-term effort.
語学の習得には根気が必要だ。
Learning a language requires persistence.
Endurance or forbearance. Emphasizes bearing hardship patiently.
この仕事は忍耐を要する。
This job requires persistence.
この問題は長年にわたって持続している。
This problem has persisted for many years.
Continued existence, often used for organizations, traditions, or systems.
その伝統は今も存続している。
That tradition persists even now.
The verb 'to continue'. A simple and common way to say something persists.
雨が一週間続いた。
The rain persisted for a week.
An adjective meaning 'persistent' in an annoying or bothersome way. Often used for people or behavior.
彼の質問はしつこかった。
His questions were persistent (and annoying).