切に
setsu ni
The English phrase sincerely can be translated into Japanese as 切に (setsu ni) or 誠実に.
Meaning: In a sincere or earnest manner, honestly (adv)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 切に | setsu ni |
| 誠実に | seijitsu ni |
切に is used to express a strong, heartfelt desire or prayer. In contrast, 誠実に is used to describe a person's character, their manner of acting or how they perform a task, such as working sincerely or treating others with integrity.
Which one should you use?
切に typically describes an earnest wish or prayer, while 誠実に focuses on being truthful, reliable and acting with integrity in one's conduct or work.
How do you pronounce it?
setsu ni
Did you know?
- In Japanese, sincerity is often expressed through silence or indirectness rather than the explicit use of words like 誠実に. Overusing such words can ironically make a speaker seem less sincere.
- The word 誠 in 誠実に is a central concept in the philosophy of Bushido, representing the absolute alignment of one's words and actions.
- The kanji in 切に is the same character used for 'cut' or 'slice'. In this context, it evokes a feeling of being cut to the quick or a heart-wrenching intensity.
Examples in context
- 本当にお礼申し上げますI truly appreciate it.
- 心からお詫び申し上げますI sincerely apologize.
- 誠にありがとうございますThank you very much
- 切に願っています。setsu ni negatte imasu.I am sincerely praying for it.
- 切に希望しています。setsu ni kibou shite imasu.I sincerely hope for it.
- 成功を切に祈ります。seikou o setsu ni inorimasu.I sincerely pray for your success.
Example conversation
Yui is asking Kenta for a big favor.
- 結衣 Yuiお願い、今回の件を助けてほしいと切に願っているの。Onegai, konkai no ken o tasukete hoshii to setsu ni negatte iru no.Please, I sincerely hope you can help me with this matter.
- 健太 Kentaそんなに深刻な顔をしないで。いいよ。Sonna ni shinkoku na kao o shinaide. Ii yo.Don't look so serious. Sure, I will.
- 結衣 Yui本当？本当に助かるわ！Hontou? Hontou ni tasukaru wa!Really? That really helps!
- 健太 Kenta気にしないで。頑張ってね。Ki ni shinaide. Ganbatte ne.Don't worry about it. Good luck.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sincerely” translations and entries 切に, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
