Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 誠意 | seii | |
| 誠実 | seijitsu | [se̞ːʑit͡sɨ] (narrow) |
The concept of sincerity is expressed through different words depending on whether you are describing a person's character, an intention or an action. 誠意 is a noun used to describe the sincere intention or effort one shows toward a specific person or situation. It is frequently used with verbs of action, such as in the phrase 誠意を見せる (seii o miseru), which means to show sincerity, often through an apology or a compensatory action.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 誠意 (seii) is composed of 誠 (sincerity/truth) and 意 (intention/thought/feeling).
Which one should you use?
While both 誠意 and 誠実 relate to sincerity, they are used in different contexts. 誠実 (seijitsu) refers to a person's character or a state of being honest and upright. In contrast, 誠意 (seii) refers to the sincere intention or effort directed at a specific situation or person. Because of this, 誠実 is often used to describe a person's personality or a way of behaving, while 誠意 is a noun often paired with verbs of action like 'to show' or 'to exhaust'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 誠実 (seijitsu) as an adjective to describe a noun, you must add the particle な (na) to form 誠実な (seijitsu na).
How do you pronounce it?
seii
When do people say it?
Showing one's sincerity, or 誠意を見せる, is a common way to demonstrate genuine intentions, particularly during an apology or when providing compensation for a mistake.
Did you know?
- In business or legal disputes, the phrase 誠意を見せる (seii o miseru) is often a veiled request for monetary compensation or a settlement payment rather than just a heartfelt apology.
- The character 誠 (sei) was the personal motto of the famous samurai leader Tokugawa Ieyasu and is associated with the samurai code of honor and truthfulness.
- While 'sincerity' in English is often a static trait, the Japanese term 誠意 (seii) functions more like a resource that one can 'exhaust' or 'spend' to prove their intentions to another person.
Examples in context
- 誠意を尽くすTo act with utmost sincerityThis sentence shows how to use 誠意 to describe acting with utmost sincerity.
- 誠意が見られない。I do not see their sincerity in this.This sentence uses 誠意 to express a lack of observed sincerity in a situation.
- 彼の誠意が伝わりました。Kare no sei'i ga tsutawarimashita.His sincerity was conveyed.
Example conversation
A workplace where two colleagues discuss a client's reaction.
- 蓮 Renクライアントは納得してくれましたか？Kuraianto wa nattoku shite kuremashita ka?Did the client accept it?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、私たちの誠意が伝わったようです。Hai, watashitachi no sei'i ga tsutawatta you desu.Yes, it seems our sincerity was conveyed.
- 蓮 Renそれは本当に良かったですね。Sore wa hontou ni yokatta desu ne.That is really good news.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮さんの助言のおかげです。Ren-san no jogen no okage desu.It is thanks to your advice, Ren.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sincerity” translations and entries 誠意, 誠実, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
