In Japanese, the concept of “passion” carries profound and inspiring connotations. The word nesshin (熱心) embodies zeal, enthusiasm, decisiveness, seriousness, and openness – all the mental attitudes that naturally arise when we’re truly passionate about something. For us, that “something” can be the study of foreign languages. By approaching language learning with nesshin, we bring energy and commitment to the process.
What makes nesshin even more beautiful is the meaning of its two Kanji:
🔥 熱 (netsu) – heat, warmth, even fever
❤️ 心 (kokoro) – heart, but also mind and spirit
Together, they suggest that to be passionate is to have an intense heat in your heart and mind. Unlike the English “passion,” which stems from the Latin patior (to suffer, endure), nesshin offers a more uplifting perspective—one of joyful commitment and focused enthusiasm.
This shift in meaning invites us to study with a warm heart and a curious mind, rather than seeing learning as a struggle.
Japanese words often combine Kanji to create layers of meaning. Take benkyou suru (勉強する) – “to study.” Here, ben means effort, and kyou (強) means strength or power. Studying, then, is literally an act of “building strength through effort.” And isn’t that true? Learning a language strengthens not only memory and cognitive abilities but can also bring professional growth, financial rewards, and a deeper connection with the world – even improving your mastery of your native tongue.
As Flora Lewis said:
„Learning another language is not just learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things.”
So let’s approach language learning with nesshin – warm-hearted enthusiasm, diligence, and a sense of purpose. Practice consistently. The time you invest today will blossom into fluency tomorrow.
Ganbatte ne! (Do your best!)
