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情熱
jōnetsu
passion
彼女は情熱を込めて演奏した。
She played with great passion.
formal
Strong feeling of enthusiasm, excitement, or dedication toward something or someone.
彼の情熱は周りを感動させた。
His passion moved everyone around him.
情熱的なアーティスト
a passionate artist
Often used to describe dedication to a cause, art, or personal goal.
Pro Tip
Emotional vs. Professional Passion
情熱 can describe both romantic love (e.g., 情熱的な恋愛) and dedication to work/art. Context clarifies the meaning.
Word Origin
From Middle Chinese 情 (qíng, 'feeling') + 熱 (rè, 'heat'). The compound entered Japanese as 情熱, retaining the sense of intense emotional heat.
Usage Notes
Used in both personal and professional contexts to describe deep commitment. More formal than 熱意 (enthusiasm) and less casual than やる気 (motivation).
Word Breakdown
情
feeling, emotion
root熱
heat, passion
root和英辞典