B1 noun 중립 2분 분량

好奇心

koukishin /ko̞ːkiɕiɴ/
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Overview

好奇心 (kōkishin) is a Japanese noun that encapsulates the concept of curiosity, inquisitiveness, and a strong desire to know or learn. It's a fundamental human trait that drives exploration, discovery, and personal growth. The word is composed of three kanji characters:

  • 好 (kō): This character signifies 'liking,' 'fondness,' or 'preference.' In this context, it implies a positive inclination towards something, a natural attraction.
  • 奇 (ki): This character means 'strange,' 'unusual,' 'curious,' or 'wonderful.' It highlights the element of encountering something novel or out of the ordinary that sparks interest.
  • 心 (shin): This character represents 'heart,' 'mind,' or 'spirit.' It indicates that the feeling of curiosity originates from within, an internal drive.

When combined, these characters paint a vivid picture: a 'liking for the unusual that resides in the heart/mind.' This beautifully captures the essence of curiosity as an intrinsic motivation to explore the unknown, question the familiar, and seek understanding. It's not just about intellectual pursuit; it also involves an emotional engagement with the world around us.

In Japanese culture, while curiosity is generally seen as a positive attribute, its expression can sometimes be nuanced. There's an appreciation for deep learning and inquiry, but also a cultural emphasis on not being overtly intrusive or questioning things too directly, especially in formal settings. However, personal curiosity that leads to self-improvement or new discoveries is highly valued. 'Kōkishin' can manifest in various ways, from a child's wonder about the natural world to a scientist's relentless pursuit of new knowledge, or even an individual's interest in different cultures and perspectives. It's a driving force behind innovation, creativity, and the continuous evolution of both individuals and society.

예시

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자주 쓰는 조합

好奇心が強い
好奇心旺盛
好奇心を刺激する
好奇心の赴くままに

자주 혼동되는 단어

好奇心 대 w

80+ WORDS

문법 패턴

p1 p2 p3

사용법

사용 참고사항

'好奇心' (kōkishin) is a noun and is commonly used to describe the feeling or trait of being curious. It can be used in various contexts, from describing a child's natural inquisitiveness to an adult's desire to learn new skills or explore new places. It's often paired with verbs like 'を持つ' (wo motsu - to have), as in '好奇心を持つ' (kōkishin wo motsu - to have curiosity), or 'が強い' (ga tsuyoi - to be strong), as in '好奇心が強い' (kōkishin ga tsuyoi - to be very curious). For example, one might say '子供は新しいものに好奇心旺盛だ' (Kodomo wa atarashii mono ni kōkishin ōsei da - Children are very curious about new things). It can also be used with 'を刺激する' (wo shigeki suru - to stimulate), as in '彼の好奇心を刺激する' (kare no kōkishin wo shigeki suru - to stimulate his curiosity). While generally positive, in some very specific and rare contexts, if curiosity leads to meddling or inappropriate questioning, it might have a slight negative connotation, but this is less common than its positive usage. For adjectives, '好奇心が強い' or '好奇心旺盛な' (kōkishin ōseina - very curious/full of curiosity) are used.

자주 하는 실수

One common mistake for learners is confusing '好奇心' with '興味' (kyōmi), which means 'interest.' While related, '興味' is a more general term for 'interest in something,' whereas '好奇心' specifically refers to the *desire to know or learn*, often about new, unusual, or unknown things. You can have '興味' in a topic without necessarily having '好奇心' to deeply investigate its every detail. Another mistake is mispronouncing '奇' as 'ki' from '季節' (kisetsu - season) with a short 'i' sound, when in '好奇心' it's a longer 'i' sound, closer to 'kee.' Lastly, sometimes learners might overuse '好奇心' when a simpler term like '知りたい' (shiritai - want to know) or '探求心' (tankyūshin - spirit of inquiry/quest) might be more appropriate depending on the nuance of the sentence.

팁

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Use it to describe someone who loves learning new things.

For example, you could say: 彼は好奇心旺盛な人です (Kare wa koukishin'ousei na hito desu), meaning 'He is a very curious person.' This emphasizes a strong, positive desire to explore and understand.

💡

Be mindful of context; it can sometimes imply prying.

While generally positive, if used in a situation where someone is asking too many personal questions, it could be perceived as intrusive. For instance, 'あなたの好奇心は少し強すぎます' (Anata no koukishin wa sukoshi tsuyosugimasu) could mean 'Your curiosity is a bit too strong,' implying they are prying. Consider the social situation carefully.

💡

Pair it with verbs that show engagement or action.

You can use it with verbs like 'を満たす' (o mitasu - to satisfy) or 'を刺激する' (o shigeki suru - to stimulate). For example: 彼の好奇心を満たすために、新しい本をたくさん読みます (Kare no koukishin o mitasu tame ni, atarashii hon o takusan yomimasu), meaning 'To satisfy his curiosity, he reads many new books.' This shows how curiosity drives action.

어원

The Japanese word '好奇心' (kōkishin) is composed of three kanji characters: 1. 好 (kō): This character means 'liking,' 'fondness,' 'to like,' or 'to be fond of.' It conveys a sense of positive inclination or attraction towards something. 2. 奇 (ki): This character means 'strange,' 'unusual,' 'curious,' or 'wonderful.' It denotes something that is out of the ordinary, prompting attention or inquiry. 3. 心 (shin): This character means 'heart,' 'mind,' 'spirit,' or 'core.' In this context, it refers to the inner faculty of thought, emotion, and will. When combined, these characters create a meaning that literally translates to 'a mind/heart that likes/is fond of the strange/unusual.' This aptly captures the essence of curiosity—a positive internal drive to explore and understand things that are novel or not yet fully known. Historically, the concept of curiosity is deeply embedded in human nature across cultures. In East Asian philosophical traditions, while not always explicitly named as 'kōkishin' in ancient texts, the pursuit of knowledge and understanding the natural world and human experience has always been valued. For instance, in Confucian thought, the continuous learning and inquiry (學, gaku) are fundamental for personal development and societal harmony. In Daoism, observing the subtleties of nature (道, dāo) often involves a form of natural inquisitiveness. The specific term '好奇心' likely gained prominence and standardized usage as Japanese society evolved and integrated concepts from both indigenous traditions and later, Western influences. The Meiji Restoration (1868) era, in particular, brought about a massive influx of Western scientific and intellectual thought, which placed a high value on inquiry, discovery, and empirical observation. Terms that could effectively translate and embody these concepts became increasingly important. While the individual kanji have ancient origins, their specific combination to form '好奇心' as a common term for 'curiosity' in its modern psychological sense is more akin to a semantic crystallization that occurred over time, possibly solidifying during the Edo period or early Meiji era when systematic categorization of human attributes and emotions became more prevalent in scholarly discourse. In contemporary Japanese, '好奇心' is a widely used and understood term to describe the inherent human desire to learn, explore, and understand new or unknown things, often implying a positive and proactive mental disposition. It's a fundamental aspect of learning, innovation, and personal growth.

문화적 맥락

The Japanese word '好奇心' (kōkishin) directly translates to 'curiosity' or 'inquisitiveness.' In Japanese culture, curiosity is generally viewed positively, especially in the context of learning, personal growth, and exploration. From a young age, children are encouraged to ask questions and explore the world around them, fostering a sense of 'kōkishin.' This curiosity is often linked to the concept of lifelong learning (生涯学習 - shōgai gakushū) and self-improvement (自己啓発 - jiko keihatsu). While encouraging independent thought, it's also understood within a framework of respecting elders and established knowledge. There can be nuances depending on the situation; excessive or intrusive curiosity might be seen as impolite, especially if it delves into personal matters without an invitation. However, a healthy and productive 'kōkishin' is considered a valuable trait for personal development and contributing to society.

암기 팁

To remember '好奇心' (kōkishin), break it down: '好' (kō) means 'fondness' or 'liking,' often seen in '好き' (suki - to like). '奇' (ki) means 'strange' or 'curious,' like in '奇妙' (kimyō - strange). '心' (shin) is 'heart' or 'mind.' So, it's a 'heart' that 'likes' 'curiosity' or 'strange' things – a 'curious heart.' Visualizing a heart eager to explore oddities can help solidify this.

자주 묻는 질문

4 질문

The Japanese word for 'curiosity' or 'inquisitiveness', and a strong desire to know or learn, is '好奇心' (kōkishin).

The pronunciation of '好奇心' is 'kōkishin'. 'Kō' is pronounced like the 'co' in 'code', 'ki' like the 'key' in 'keyboard', and 'shin' like the 'shin' in 'shins'.

Certainly! You could say something like '子供たちは新しいおもちゃに好奇心旺盛だ' (Kodomo-tachi wa atarashii omocha ni kōkishin ōsei da), which means 'The children are very curious about the new toy.' Another example is '彼の好奇心は尽きることがない' (Kare no kōkishin wa tsukiru koto ga nai), meaning 'His curiosity knows no bounds.'

The word '好奇心' is composed of three kanji characters. The first, '好' (kō), means 'like' or 'fondness'. The second, '奇' (ki), means 'strange' or 'curious'. And the third, '心' (shin), means 'heart' or 'mind'. Together, they convey the idea of a 'heart/mind that is fond of strange/curious things,' which beautifully encapsulates the meaning of curiosity.

셀프 테스트

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彼女は新しい文化に___を持っている。

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
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子供たちの___は、彼らが世界について学ぶのに役立ちます。

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
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彼の___が彼を科学研究の道へと導いた。

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:

점수: /3

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