真剣（しんけん）
JLPT N3 · na-adjective
Pitch accent: heiban (flat) — starts low, then stays high with no drop
Meaning: serious / earnest
Conjugation
| Form | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| te-form | 真剣で | しんけんで |
| ta-form (past) | 真剣だった | しんけんだった |
| nai-form (negative) | 真剣ではない | しんけんではない |
Example sentences
- 彼は真剣な顔で話を聞いた。 — He listened with a serious expression on his face.
- 将来について真剣に考える。 — I'm thinking seriously about my future.
Idioms & proverbs containing “真剣”
- 真剣勝負 (しんけんしょうぶ) — fighting with real swords
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “真剣” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)