Hello, I’m Kodak.
Japanese learners often first meet まじめ (majime) in a sentence such as:
田中さんは真面目な人です。
Tanaka-san wa majime na hito desu.
Mr. Tanaka is a serious and responsible person.
At first, the translation looks simple:
⇒ serious
⇒ earnest
⇒ sincere
⇒ responsible
When Japanese people call someone 真面目, they often mean that the person takes things properly, does not act carelessly, and can be trusted to do what they should.
A majime person can still be cheerful and funny.
真面目 (majime) describes someone or something that is serious, earnest, sincere, responsible, or not joking.
When it describes a personality, its core image is:
“taking people, duties, and situations properly rather than treating them carelessly.”
It can describe a personality, an attitude, a conversation, or the way someone performs an action.
Let’s connect all of those uses so that you do not have to memorize them as unrelated meanings.
What Does Majime (真面目) Mean in Japanese?
真面目 (majime) has two closely connected meanings.
Someone faces a task, statement, or situation sincerely instead of treating it lightly.
Meaning 2: sincere / honest / responsible
Someone behaves properly, works steadily, and does not act dishonestly or carelessly.
彼は真面目に勉強している。
Kare wa majime ni benkyō shite iru.
He is studying seriously.
彼女は真面目で信頼できる人です。
Kanojo wa majime de shinrai dekiru hito desu.
She is a responsible and trustworthy person.
これは真面目な話です。
Kore wa majime na hanashi desu.
This is a serious matter. / I am being serious about this.
You do not treat the matter carelessly.
A 真面目な人 does not treat duties or promises carelessly. Someone who 真面目に勉強する does not treat studying as a joke or half-hearted activity.
The Core Image of Majime: “Taking Things Properly”
The English word serious often makes learners imagine a stern face, a grave problem, or a person who does not laugh.
真面目 can include that meaning, but its center is often closer to:
＋
not dishonest
＋
not treating the situation as a joke
↓
taking the person, task, rule, or situation properly
One completes assignments carefully, listens in class, keeps promises, and admits mistakes.
The other often skips work, jokes during important explanations, and makes excuses.
The first student is naturally described as 真面目.
Someone can study very seriously and still find the subject difficult.
Is Majime a Compliment?
In many situations, 真面目 is a positive description.
・responsible
・reliable
・earnest
・honest in their conduct
・committed to work or study
・unlikely to cause trouble
・someone who follows through on duties
佐藤さんは真面目だから、安心して仕事を任せられる。
Satō-san wa majime dakara, anshin shite shigoto o makaserareru.
Ms. Sato is responsible, so I can confidently entrust the work to her.
彼は真面目で優しい人です。
Kare wa majime de yasashii hito desu.
He is a sincere, responsible, and kind person.
真面目すぎる means someone is too serious. It may suggest that they worry too much, cannot relax, take jokes literally, or follow rules without flexibility.
serious, responsible, earnest
⇒ usually positive or neutral
真面目すぎる
too serious
⇒ may suggest stress, stiffness, or lack of flexibility
生真面目だ
extremely serious and sometimes inflexible
⇒ often has a mildly negative or teasing nuance
くそ真面目だ
ridiculously / excessively serious
⇒ blunt and potentially insulting
How to Pronounce Majime
Hiragana: まじめ
Katakana: マジメ
Romaji: majime
Mora: ま・じ・め (3 morae)
Pronounce it in three even beats:
ま ・ じ ・ め
The Japanese じ (ji) is similar to the sound at the beginning of English jeep, but keep the whole word light and even rather than strongly stressing one syllable.
Majime in Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana
Kanji: 真面目
The normal kanji spelling is 真面目.
However, learners should be careful: まじめ is not read by simply combining the usual readings of 真・面・目. The spelling developed as an ateji-style written form connected to the meaning and image of the word.
It is better to learn 真面目 as one complete written word.
Hiragana: まじめ
The hiragana spelling まじめ is completely correct. It is common in children’s writing, beginner materials, casual text, and places where the writer wants a softer visual impression.
Katakana: マジメ
The katakana spelling マジメ may be used for emphasis, advertising, character dialogue, or a deliberately casual visual style. The ordinary spelling is still 真面目 or まじめ.
Softer or beginner-friendly writing: まじめ
Stylistic emphasis: マジメ
The Origin and Etymology of Majime
The exact origin of まじめ is not completely certain, so it is better to present the main theory as a theory rather than a proven fact.
Major dictionary explanations connect the まじ in まじめ with まじまじ, a word associated with staring fixedly or blinking while remaining awake. Some etymological accounts also connect it with まじろぐ, “to blink.”
まじ / まじまじ
an appearance involving fixed eyes or repeated blinking
↓
まじめな顔
a straight, tense, or serious facial expression
↓
まじめ
being serious or earnest
↓
まじめな人
a sincere and responsible person
The word appears in the early Edo-period work Nise Monogatari, dated around 1639–1640, in an example referring to a まじめなる顔—a serious facial expression. The kanji spelling 真面目 became established later as a written representation of the spoken word.
A serious facial expression came to represent a serious attitude, and the meaning later expanded to sincerity and responsible conduct.
However, modern マジ is much more casual:
マジで？ = “Seriously?” / “For real?”
What Type of Word Is Majime?
真面目 functions as both a noun-like word and a na-adjective.
真面目な + noun
Before a verb:
真面目に + verb
At the end of a sentence:
真面目だ / 真面目です
Connecting descriptions:
真面目で + another description
1. 真面目な + Noun
Use な when 真面目 directly modifies a noun.
真面目な人
majime na hito
a serious / responsible person
真面目な学生
majime na gakusei
an earnest student
真面目な話
majime na hanashi
a serious conversation or matter
○ 真面目な人
× 真面目の人
2. 真面目に + Verb
Use に when you describe how an action is performed.
真面目に働く。
Majime ni hataraku.
To work seriously and responsibly.
もっと真面目に聞いてください。
Motto majime ni kiite kudasai.
Please listen more seriously.
彼は問題に真面目に向き合った。
Kare wa mondai ni majime ni mukiatta.
He faced the problem seriously.
3. 真面目だ / 真面目です
Use だ casually or です politely at the end of a sentence.
妹はとても真面目だ。
Imōto wa totemo majime da.
My younger sister is very responsible.
山田さんは真面目です。
Yamada-san wa majime desu.
Mr. Yamada is a serious and responsible person.
4. 真面目で + Description
彼女は真面目で親切です。
Kanojo wa majime de shinsetsu desu.
She is responsible and kind.
真面目で努力家の学生です。
Majime de doryokuka no gakusei desu.
He/She is an earnest, hardworking student.
Useful Forms of Majime
真面目です — polite form
真面目だった — was serious / responsible
真面目ではない — is not serious / responsible
真面目じゃない — casual “isn’t serious”
真面目な — serious + noun
真面目に — seriously + verb
真面目で — serious and…
真面目さ — seriousness / earnestness
真面目すぎる — too serious
How to Use Majime to Describe Someone’s Personality
When 真面目 describes a person, it often combines several positive qualities rather than translating into one exact English adjective.
・does work properly
・follows rules and instructions
・keeps promises
・does not cheat
・takes responsibilities seriously
・studies or works steadily
・behaves in a socially reliable way
彼は遅刻も欠勤もしない真面目な社員です。
Kare wa chikoku mo kekkin mo shinai majime na shain desu.
He is a responsible employee who is never late or absent.
姉は昔から真面目な性格です。
Ane wa mukashi kara majime na seikaku desu.
My older sister has always had a serious and responsible personality.
真面目な人だから、約束を破るとは思えない。
Majime na hito dakara, yakusoku o yaburu to wa omoenai.
He is a responsible person, so I cannot imagine him breaking a promise.
But tone and context matter. After you refuse to relax or take a joke, the same sentence may gently mean, “You’re really serious, aren’t you?”
Majime Does Not Always Mean “A Serious Personality”
真面目 can describe a temporary attitude, even if the person is normally playful.
いつも冗談ばかりの彼が、急に真面目な顔になった。
Itsumo jōdan bakari no kare ga, kyū ni majime na kao ni natta.
He is always joking, but suddenly his face became serious.
今は真面目な話をしているんだ。
Ima wa majime na hanashi o shite iru n da.
I’m talking seriously right now.
How to Say “Seriously?” Using Majime
When checking whether someone is joking, you can use 真面目.
Are you saying that seriously?
それ、本気で言ってる？
Do you really mean that?
マジで？
Seriously? / For real?
Very casual
A：来月、仕事を辞める。
Raigetsu, shigoto o yameru.
I’m quitting my job next month.B：真面目に言ってるの？
Majime ni itteru no?
Are you serious?
真面目に言ってるの？ is a fuller sentence that asks whether the person genuinely means what they are saying.
Majime vs Serious in English
Majime and serious overlap, but they are not interchangeable in every sentence.
often means a responsible, earnest, well-behaved, or reliable person
a serious person
may mean a thoughtful person who rarely jokes, or someone with a grave manner
深刻な問題
a serious problem
重い病気
a serious illness
真剣な表情
a serious or intensely focused expression
For a serious illness, use 重い病気. For a serious problem, use 深刻な問題.
真面目 focuses on an earnest attitude, sincere conduct, or something that is not a joke.
He is a serious and responsible student.
彼は真面目な学生です。
⇒ 真面目 fits the person’s attitude.
This is a serious problem.
これは深刻な問題です。
⇒ The problem has grave consequences.
She gave me a serious look.
彼女は真剣な表情で私を見た。
⇒ Her concentration or intensity is emphasized.
I am seriously ill.
私は重い病気です。
⇒ 真面目 is not used.
Majime vs Seijitsu (誠実): What Is the Difference?
真面目 and 誠実 can both describe a trustworthy person, but their focus differs.
Focus: attitude toward duties, rules, study, work, and proper behavior
⇒ serious, responsible, earnest
誠実 (seijitsu)
Focus: honesty and sincerity toward other people
⇒ sincere, honest, faithful, acting in good faith
A person may be 真面目 because they perform duties properly and 誠実 because they treat other people honestly and sincerely.
彼は真面目に毎日働いている。
He works diligently and responsibly every day.
⇒ Focus: his work attitude.
彼は顧客に誠実に対応した。
He dealt with the customer sincerely and in good faith.
⇒ Focus: his honesty toward another person.
彼女は真面目で誠実な人だ。
She is a responsible and sincere person.
⇒ Both qualities can naturally appear together.
Majime vs Kinben (勤勉): Serious vs Hardworking
A broad personality and attitude: responsible, proper, earnest, not careless
勤勉 (kinben)
A work or study habit: hardworking, diligent, industrious
彼は真面目な学生です。
Kare wa majime na gakusei desu.
He is a responsible and earnest student.
彼は勤勉な学生です。
Kare wa kinben na gakusei desu.
He is a diligent, hardworking student.
Use 勤勉 when you especially want to praise the amount and consistency of effort.
Use 真面目 when you want to describe the person’s responsible attitude more broadly.
Majime vs Kichoumen (几帳面): Responsible vs Meticulous
takes duties and situations properly
⇒ responsible / earnest
几帳面 (kichōmen)
pays close attention to order, details, time, and accuracy
⇒ meticulous / methodical / punctual
彼女は真面目に仕事をする。
Kanojo wa majime ni shigoto o suru.
She works responsibly.
彼女は書類を几帳面に整理する。
Kanojo wa shorui o kichōmen ni seiri suru.
She organizes documents meticulously.
A person with a perfectly arranged desk and precise schedule is more specifically 几帳面.
Majime vs Otonashii (大人しい): Serious vs Quiet
responsible, earnest, serious in conduct
大人しい (otonashii)
quiet, calm, gentle, obedient, or reserved
彼は真面目だけど、よく冗談も言う。
Kare wa majime da kedo, yoku jōdan mo iu.
He is responsible, but he also jokes a lot.
彼は大人しくて、あまり話さない。
Kare wa otonashikute, amari hanasanai.
He is quiet and does not talk very much.
That is why 真面目 does not simply mean “quiet.”
Related Forms: Oomajime, Kimajime, Kusomajime, and Fumajime
大真面目 (Ōmajime): Completely Serious
大真面目 means extremely serious or completely sincere, often when something sounds unbelievable.
冗談じゃないよ。私は大真面目だ。
Jōdan janai yo. Watashi wa ōmajime da.
I’m not joking. I’m completely serious.
生真面目 (Kimajime): Overly Serious and Inflexible
生真面目 describes someone who is extremely serious, sometimes to the point of being rigid or unable to relax.
兄は生真面目で、冗談を真に受けてしまう。
Ani wa kimajime de, jōdan o ma ni ukete shimau.
My brother is overly serious and tends to take jokes literally.
くそ真面目 (Kusomajime): Excessively Serious
くそ真面目 is a blunt expression meaning excessively serious, stiff, or humorless. It may sound insulting.
そんなにくそ真面目に考えなくてもいいよ。
Sonna ni kusomajime ni kangaenakute mo ii yo.
You don’t have to take it so ridiculously seriously.
不真面目 (Fumajime): Unserious or Irresponsible
不真面目 is the opposite of 真面目. It describes someone who is careless, insincere, or irresponsible.
彼は授業中も遊んでいて、不真面目な学生だ。
Kare wa jugyōchū mo asonde ite, fumajime na gakusei da.
He fools around even during class and is an irresponsible student.
生真面目 and くそ真面目 more easily suggest excessive seriousness or inflexibility.
Common Collocations with Majime
真面目な性格 — a serious personality
真面目な学生 — an earnest student
真面目な社員 — a responsible employee
真面目な顔 — a serious face
真面目な話 — a serious conversation / matter
真面目に働く — work seriously and responsibly
真面目に勉強する — study seriously
真面目に考える — think seriously
真面目に答える — answer seriously
真面目に取り組む — tackle something earnestly
真面目に受け取る — take something seriously
真面目すぎる — be too serious
Natural Example Sentences with Majime
彼は真面目な性格です。
Kare wa majime na seikaku desu.
He has a serious and responsible personality.
真面目な人と一緒に働きたい。
Majime na hito to issho ni hatarakitai.
I want to work with a responsible person.
彼女は何事にも真面目に取り組む。
Kanojo wa nanigoto ni mo majime ni torikumu.
She approaches everything earnestly.
もっと真面目に勉強しなさい。
Motto majime ni benkyō shinasai.
Study more seriously.
私は真面目に質問しているんです。
Watashi wa majime ni shitsumon shite iru n desu.
I’m asking a serious question.
真面目な話、将来どうしたいの？
Majime na hanashi, shōrai dō shitai no?
Seriously, what do you want to do in the future?
彼の真面目さはみんなが認めている。
Kare no majimesa wa minna ga mitomete iru.
Everyone recognizes how responsible he is.
真面目すぎて、自分を追い込まないでね。
Majime sugite, jibun o oikomenaide ne.
Don’t push yourself too hard by being overly serious.
普段は明るいけれど、仕事には真面目だ。
Fudan wa akarui keredo, shigoto ni wa majime da.
He is cheerful normally, but serious about his work.
先生の話を真面目に聞いてください。
Sensei no hanashi o majime ni kiite kudasai.
Please listen seriously to the teacher.
冗談だと思ったら、彼は大真面目だった。
Jōdan da to omottara, kare wa ōmajime datta.
I thought he was joking, but he was completely serious.
彼は真面目だけど、少し融通が利かない。
Kare wa majime da kedo, sukoshi yūzū ga kikanai.
He is responsible, but a little inflexible.
仕事を不真面目な態度でやってはいけない。
Shigoto o fumajime na taido de yatte wa ikenai.
You should not approach work with an irresponsible attitude.
真面目に謝れば、きっと分かってくれるよ。
Majime ni ayamareba, kitto wakatte kureru yo.
If you apologize sincerely, they will probably understand.
彼女は明るくて面白いけれど、とても真面目な人だ。
Kanojo wa akarukute omoshiroi keredo, totemo majime na hito da.
She is cheerful and funny, but also a very responsible person.
How Majime Is Used in Anime and Manga
In anime and manga, 真面目 is often used to establish a character type or create contrast between personalities.
the responsible class-representative type
真面目すぎるキャラクター
a character who is too serious and cannot relax
普段はふざけている人物が真面目になる場面
a normally playful character suddenly becoming serious
真面目な人物と自由奔放な人物の対比
a contrast between a responsible character and a carefree character
You’re too serious.
たまには真面目にやれ！
Take it seriously for once!
今は真面目な話をしてるんだ。
I’m being serious right now.
え？ 大真面目だけど。
Huh? I’m completely serious.
あの子は真面目でいい子だよ。
She’s a responsible, good kid.
Writers may portray that quality positively—as reliable and hardworking—or use it humorously when the character cannot understand jokes or break rules.
Common Beginner Mistakes with Majime
Mistake 1: Using 真面目 for Every Meaning of “Serious”
a serious and responsible student
○ 深刻な問題
a serious problem
○ 重い病気
a serious illness
○ 真剣な表情
a serious, focused expression
Mistake 2: Saying 真面目の人
○ 真面目な人
Mistake 3: Assuming Majime Means Quiet or Shy
真面目 describes responsible and earnest conduct. A loud, sociable, funny person can still be 真面目.
Mistake 4: Translating 真面目 Only as “Honest”
Honesty may be part of the meaning, but 真面目 also includes proper effort, responsibility, and seriousness. For honesty toward another person, 誠実 or 正直 may be more precise.
Mistake 5: Thinking 真面目 Is Always Positive
The word is usually positive or neutral, but 真面目すぎる, 生真面目, or a teasing tone can suggest stiffness or lack of flexibility.
FAQ About Majime
What does majime mean in Japanese?
Majime (真面目) means serious, earnest, sincere, or responsible. It describes someone who takes duties and situations properly rather than acting carelessly or dishonestly.
What does majime na hito mean?
真面目な人 (majime na hito) means a serious, responsible, earnest, or reliable person.
Is majime a positive word?
Usually, yes. It often praises someone’s responsibility and reliability. However, 真面目すぎる means “too serious” and may imply inflexibility or an inability to relax.
Is majime a na-adjective?
Yes. Before a noun, use 真面目な, as in 真面目な学生. Before a verb, use 真面目に, as in 真面目に働く.
How do you write majime in Japanese?
It is commonly written 真面目 in kanji or まじめ in hiragana. マジメ in katakana is used mainly for stylistic emphasis.
How do you pronounce majime?
Pronounce it in three even Japanese morae: ma-ji-me — ま・じ・め.
Does majime mean hardworking?
It can imply a hardworking attitude, but 勤勉 (kinben) more specifically means diligent or hardworking. 真面目 is broader and includes responsibility, proper conduct, and sincerity.
What is the difference between majime and seijitsu?
真面目 focuses on a responsible attitude toward duties and proper conduct. 誠実 focuses more strongly on honesty and sincerity toward other people.
What is the opposite of majime?
不真面目 (fumajime) means unserious, careless, or irresponsible. Depending on context, いい加減 may also describe a careless or half-hearted attitude.
Is maji short for majime?
Yes. The casual word マジ, meaning “seriously” or “for real,” is generally explained as a shortened form of まじめ.
Can majime describe a woman or a man?
Yes. 真面目 is not gender-specific and can describe anyone.
Can a funny person be majime?
Yes. A person can be cheerful and humorous while still being responsible and earnest about work, promises, or relationships.
Summary: The Meaning and Usage of Majime
真面目 means serious, earnest, sincere, responsible, or not joking.
● Core image
Taking people, duties, and situations properly rather than treating them carelessly.
● Personality
真面目な人 is a responsible, reliable, and earnest person—not necessarily a quiet or humorless person.
● Grammar
真面目な人 — a serious person
真面目に働く — work seriously
彼は真面目だ — he is responsible
真面目で優しい — responsible and kind
● Writing
Kanji: 真面目
Hiragana: まじめ
Katakana: マジメ
Romaji: majime
● Nuance
Usually positive or neutral, but 真面目すぎる and 生真面目 can suggest excessive seriousness or inflexibility.
● Similar words
誠実 — sincere and honest toward people
勤勉 — diligent and hardworking
几帳面 — meticulous and methodical
大人しい — quiet and reserved
Remember the core image:
“This person does not treat important things carelessly.”
That image connects 真面目な人, 真面目に働く, and 真面目な話 naturally.
References
- Kotobank: 真面目 — dictionary meanings, historical examples, and readings.
- Kanjipedia: 〈真面目〉 — meanings of seriousness, earnestness, and sincerity.
- Sanseido Word Column: 「真面目」な「当て字」 — discussion of competing etymological theories, early usage, and the development of the kanji spelling.
- Kotobank Japanese–English Dictionary: 真面目 — English equivalents including serious, earnest, honest, and reliable.
- Kotobank: 生真面目.
- Kotobank: くそ真面目.
- Kotobank: 不真面目.
- Kotobank: 大真面目.