使命（しめい、shimei）
- mission

The Japanese word 使命 (しめい, shimei) translates to "mission," "calling," "duty," or "purpose" in English. It refers to a strong sense of responsibility, a task one is meant to fulfill, or a reason for being. It implies a sense of importance and often suggests a commitment to a particular goal or objective. It’s often related to a moral or ethical obligation. The word often carries weight, implying a deeper meaning beyond just a simple "task." 使命 can encompass both personal and professional contexts.

⚫︎彼の使命は、困っている人々を助けることだ。 Translation: His mission is to help people in need. ⚫︎彼女は自分の使命を果たすために、一生懸命働いた。 Translation: She worked hard to fulfill her mission. ⚫︎新しいプロジェクトは、私たちの会社の使命を反映している。 Translation: The new project reflects our company's mission.

You can use 使命 when talking about: ⚫︎A person's life purpose. ⚫︎A specific goal or objective that someone is dedicated to achieving. ⚫︎The core values and purpose of an organization or company. ⚫︎A sense of duty or responsibility. It's suitable for both formal and informal conversations, but the context will influence the nuance. For example, talking about a company's 使命 is a formal situation.

使命 is primarily written in kanji. The reading is しめい in hiragana. There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana (送りがな) doesn’t vary.

⚫︎任務 (にんむ, ninmu) - duty, task, assignment ⚫︎役割 (やくわり, yakuwari) - role, duty ⚫︎目的 (もくてき, mokuteki) - purpose, goal, objective ⚫︎責務 (せきむ, sekimu) - duty, obligation

While there isn't a direct antonym, words that imply a lack of purpose or a different focus could be considered related. However, the concept of an antonym to 使命 is less clear-cut. Some relevant words include: ⚫︎気晴らし (きばらし, kibarashi) - diversion, recreation ⚫︎無駄 (むだ, muda) - waste, uselessness

医者としての彼の使命は、患者を治療することです。 ・Translation: His mission as a doctor is to treat patients. ・Explanation: This sentence clearly defines the role of a doctor in terms of 使命. It expresses the core responsibility of the profession.

彼女は自分の使命を忘れず、困難に立ち向かった。 ・Translation: She did not forget her mission and faced the difficulties. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates how a person perseveres through challenges by holding onto their sense of 使命. It expresses her strong will.

The word 使命 is a compound word formed from two kanji: ⚫︎使 (し, shi) meaning "to use," "to employ," or "to send." ⚫︎命 (めい, mei) meaning "life," "fate," "command," or "order." When combined, the meaning encompasses a command or order relating to one's life or purpose, hence "mission" or "duty."