意志（いし、ishi）
- will/intention

The Japanese word 意志 (いし) primarily means "will," "volition," "intention," or "determination." It refers to the conscious and deliberate exercise of the mind in making decisions, setting goals, and taking action. It encompasses the power of the mind to direct and control one's actions and choices. It can also imply a strong sense of purpose and resolve. It is a crucial concept in understanding human behavior, motivations, and goals.

⚫︎ 彼の意志は固い。 Translation: His will is strong. ⚫︎ 私は自分の意志を貫く。 Translation: I will stick to my intention. ⚫︎ 彼女は強い意志を持って夢を追いかけた。 Translation: She pursued her dream with strong determination.

You use 意志 when discussing someone's will, intention, or determination to do something. It's appropriate when emphasizing the conscious and deliberate nature of a person's actions. It's suitable for various contexts, including personal goals, decisions, beliefs, and aspirations. It is often used in formal and informal situations, depending on the context.

The word 意志 is written in kanji: 意志. The reading is usually いし (ishi). It is not typically written in hiragana or katakana except for specific stylistic choices. There are no variations in the okurigana.

⚫︎ 決意 (けつい - ketsui): determination, resolve ⚫︎ 意図 (いと - ito): intention, purpose ⚫︎ 決心 (けっしん - kesshin): decision, resolution ⚫︎ 覚悟 (かくご - kakugo): readiness, preparedness, determination ⚫︎ 意向 (いこう - ikou): intention, wish

⚫︎ 無気力 (むきりょく - mukiryoku): listlessness, lack of energy ⚫︎ 消極的 (しょうきょくてき - shoukyokuteki): passive, negative ⚫︎ 無関心 (むかんしん - mukanshin): indifference, apathy

彼はどんな困難にも屈しない強い意志を持っている。 ・Translation: He has a strong will that doesn't yield to any difficulty. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the unwavering determination (意志) of a person in the face of challenges.

彼女は医師になるという強い意志を固めた。 ・Translation: She solidified her strong intention to become a doctor. ・Explanation: This sentence describes someone making a firm decision (意志) and setting a specific goal.

The word 意志 is a compound word formed from two kanji: ⚫︎ 意 (い - i): meaning, thought, mind ⚫︎ 志 (し - shi): will, intention, aspiration The combination of these two characters conveys the meaning of "will," "intention," or "determination" derived from the workings of the mind and personal aspirations.