Motive meanings in Japanese

動機 (どうき)

Example:

Her motive for studying hard is to get a scholarship.

彼女が一生懸命勉強する動機は奨学金を得ることです。

The detective was trying to uncover the motive behind the crime.

探偵は犯罪の背後にある動機を明らかにしようとしていました。

Usage: FormalContext: Used in discussions about psychology, crime, or personal reasons.

Note: 動機 is the most common translation and is often used in both spoken and written Japanese.

意図 (いと)

Example:

His motive was not clear, but it seemed he had good intentions.

彼の動機は明確ではなかったが、彼には良い意図があるようだった。

The motive behind her actions was to help others.

彼女の行動の動機は他の人を助けることだった。

Usage: Formal/InformalContext: Used in discussions about intentions and reasons for actions.

Note: 意図 can also mean 'intention' or 'purpose', and is often used in more philosophical or reflective contexts.

動因 (どういん)

Example:

The motive for his investment was the potential for profit.

彼の投資の動因は利益の可能性でした。

Understanding the motive behind behavior is key in psychology.

行動の背後にある動因を理解することは心理学において重要です。

Usage: FormalContext: Used in academic or technical discussions, especially in psychology or sociology.

Note: 動因 is less commonly used in everyday conversation and is more specialized.

reason

A reason is a cause or explanation for an action or event.

Example: His reason for studying abroad was to experience different cultures.

Note: While a motive is the underlying reason for a specific action, a reason can be more general and may not imply intent.

purpose

Purpose refers to the intention or objective behind an action.

Example: The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the new project.

Note: Purpose is often more focused on the goal or intended outcome, while a motive can be more personal or hidden.

intent

Intent refers to the state of mind with which an action is done.

Example: She acted with the intent of helping others.

Note: Intent is closely related to motive but may emphasize the conscious decision or plan behind an action.

drive

Drive refers to a strong motivation or urge to achieve something.

Example: His strong drive to succeed pushed him to work hard.

Note: Drive can imply a more persistent or determined motivation compared to a motive.

incentive

An incentive is something that motivates or encourages someone to do something.

Example: The company offered a financial incentive to boost sales.

Note: While a motive is the underlying reason for an action, an incentive is often an external reward or stimulus.

Ulterior motive

An undisclosed reason or purpose behind someone's actions.

Example: I think she has an ulterior motive for being so nice to us.

Note: Ulterior motive refers to a hidden agenda or intention behind one's actions, different from a straightforward motive.

Hidden motive

A concealed reason or intention motivating someone's actions.

Example: He suspects there's a hidden motive behind their sudden interest in the project.

Note: Hidden motive emphasizes the secretive nature of the motive, implying it is not easily discernible.

Motives are questioned

To doubt or scrutinize the reasons behind someone's actions.

Example: Her motives are being questioned by the committee.

Note: This phrase implies a level of skepticism or suspicion towards the motives being discussed.

Motives behind actions

The underlying reasons that drive someone to act in a certain way.

Example: Understanding the motives behind his decisions can help resolve the conflict.

Note: This phrase focuses on understanding the driving forces behind someone's actions rather than just the actions themselves.

Pure motive

An intention or reason that is genuine, sincere, and without ulterior motives.

Example: We believe that his involvement in the charity is driven by pure motives.

Note: Pure motive emphasizes the honesty and sincerity of the intention, free from any hidden agendas.

Motive

Motive, in this context, refers to the reason or intention behind someone's action.

Example: Why did you skip the meeting? What was your motive?

Note: While 'motive' is the original word, when used in spoken language specifically to question someone's intentions, it can imply skepticism or curiosity.

Vibe

Vibe is the overall atmosphere or feeling of a place or situation.

Example: I'm not feeling the vibe at this party. Let's leave.

Note: While 'vibe' doesn't directly mean motive, it can be used informally to express a similar concept of the underlying reason for wanting to stay or leave a situation.

End goal

End goal refers to the ultimate objective or outcome that one is striving for.

Example: Our end goal is to increase customer satisfaction by 20% this quarter.

Note: While 'end goal' doesn't directly mean motive, it relates to the purpose or intention that drives actions to reach a desired outcome.

Intention

Intention refers to a person's plan or objective.

Example: I'm sure Sarah had good intentions when she shared that information with us.

Note: While 'intention' doesn't directly mean motive, it is closely tied as it reflects what someone aims to achieve by their actions.

His motive for committing the crime was revenge.

She lacked the motivation to finish her project.

Money was the main driving force behind his actions.

Motive - Noun (Noun) / Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass)

Lemma: motive

Conjugations

Adjective (Adjective): motive

Noun, plural (Noun, plural): motives

Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): motive

Syllabification and Stress

motive Contains 2 syllables: mo • tive

Phonetic transcription: ˈmō-tiv

mo tive , ˈmō tiv (The red syllable is stressed)

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.

motive: ~ 2900 (Very common).

This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

Motive