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ひたむき Japanese meaning | Kotomora

ひたむき

ひ

た

む

き

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective

earnest; single-minded; wholehearted

usually written using kana alone

Describes a focused, unwavering attitude toward a goal or task, often with a positive connotation of sincerity and dedication.

彼かれはひたむきに勉べん強きょうしている。
He is studying earnestly.
ひたむきな努ど力りょくが実みを結むすんだ。
His single-minded efforts bore fruit.

Written forms

ひたむきUsage98%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 直向き and 直向 are rare and may not be recognized by all readers.
直向ひたむきUsage2%
Rare kanji spelling; the kana form is strongly preferred in modern usage.
直向ひたむき
Rare abbreviated kanji spelling; the kana form is strongly preferred in modern usage.

Kanji

直straightaway, honesty, frankness

向yonder, facing, beyond

Similar words

真面目まじめ
真面目 implies seriousness and diligence, while ひたむき emphasizes unwavering focus and wholehearted dedication to a single aim.
一途いちず
一途 also means single-minded, but often carries a nuance of stubbornness or obsession, whereas ひたむき is more positive and earnest.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain, but it may be related to the verb ひたむく (to face one direction intently). The kanji 直向き literally means 'facing straight,' reflecting the sense of direct, unwavering focus.