Word Detail

The Japanese verb 諦めます (あきらめます) means "to give up," "to abandon," "to resign oneself to," or "to accept (something as inevitable)." It implies a decision to stop pursuing a goal, hope, or activity, often because it seems impossible or unlikely to succeed, or because the situation has become too difficult or unpleasant. The word carries a sense of finality and often suggests a degree of resignation or disappointment. The choice to 諦めます may be due to the lack of resources, time, or the recognition of one's limitations.

⚫︎試験に落ちて、夢を諦めました。 Translation: I failed the exam, and I gave up on my dream. ⚫︎もう無理だと諦めて、新しい仕事を探し始めた。 Translation: I gave up because I thought it was impossible, and started looking for a new job. ⚫︎状況を諦め、最善を尽くすことにした。 Translation: I accepted the situation and decided to do my best.

⚫︎You can use 諦めます in various situations where you decide to stop trying or pursuing something. ⚫︎It's common when a goal becomes unreachable, a relationship ends, or a plan fails. ⚫︎The context determines whether the tone is simply factual (giving up on a task) or emotionally charged (giving up on a dream). ⚫︎諦めます is a polite form of the verb. The plain form (辞書形) is 諦める (あきらめる). The "masu" form is usually used in polite conversation.

⚫︎The word is typically written with the kanji 諦 (あきら), combined with the hiragana めます. ⚫︎The kanji 諦 itself means "to give up," "to abandon," or "to resign." ⚫︎The okurigana (hiragana attached to the kanji) is usually め. ⚫︎The verb conjugates regularly, such as 諦めません (あきらめません) meaning "will not give up," 諦めました (あきらめました) meaning "gave up," and 諦めよう (あきらめよう) meaning "let's give up" or "I'll give up".

⚫︎断念します (だんねんします) - to give up (a plan, hope, etc.). This is a more formal equivalent. ⚫︎見捨てる (みすてる) - to abandon, to forsake (something or someone). ⚫︎放棄する (ほうきする) - to abandon, to relinquish (something). This is a more formal and literary term. ⚫︎ギブアップする - to give up (loanword, derived from English). ⚫︎やめる (辞める) - to quit, to stop (doing something).

⚫︎頑張ります (がんばります) - to do one's best, to persevere. ⚫︎続ける (つづける) - to continue. ⚫︎挑戦する (ちょうせんする) - to challenge, to try. ⚫︎諦めない (あきらめない) - not to give up.

もうこれ以上続けるのは無理だと諦めて、新しい方法を考え始めた。 ・Translation: Having realized it was impossible to continue any longer, I gave up and started thinking about a new method. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates giving up on something, due to the recognition that the current course is no longer viable, and a search for alternative.

何度失敗しても、諦めずに夢を追いかけたい。 ・Translation: No matter how many times I fail, I want to pursue my dream without giving up. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the opposite of giving up, emphasizing the importance of perseverance.

The kanji 諦 is composed of 帝 (meaning "emperor" or "god") and 咅. It originally carried meanings related to clarity and understanding. Over time, it evolved to represent a state of clear-sightedness, acceptance, and the subsequent act of giving up or resigning oneself to a situation.