Japanese word

存分

Pronunciation

Romajizonbun

Meaning

  • adverbto one's heart's content

Example

休日は存分に遊びます。kyū jitsu wa zon bun ni aso bi ma su

I play to my heart's content on my day off.

Illustration for 存分 (to one's heart's content)

More examples

旅行では現地の料理を存分に味わいます。ryo kō de wa gen chi no ryō ri o zon bun ni aji wa i ma su

When I travel, I savor the local food to my heart's content.

Core concept

It presents an action as reaching the amount or freedom a person wants, often with a sense of full satisfaction.

Common phrases

  • 存分に発揮するzon bun ni hak ki su ru

    demonstrate fully

  • 存分に楽しむzon bun ni tano shi mu

    enjoy to one's heart's content

  • 存分に味わうzon bun ni aji wa u

    savor to one's heart's content

Similar words

思い切りomoikiri: It describes doing something as fully as a person can, using all available energy.
心ゆくまでkokoroyukumade: It describes doing something as fully as one wishes, with complete satisfaction.

Definition in Japanese

思うままに、満足するまで十分に物事を行うさま。omo u ma ma ni man zoku su ru ma de jū bun ni mono goto o okona u sa ma

Word origin

The word 存分 (zonbun) combines the Sino-Japanese elements 存 (zon, "exist") and 分 (bun, "share or extent"); together, they form a conventional expression for reaching the full extent one wants.

Usage tips

  • 存分に (zonbun ni) is useful in descriptions of fully experiencing or using something, while English "freely" can also suggest a lack of restriction without the same sense of fulfillment.

Other meanings

  • freelyadverb

Word lists with this word