persistent
persistent は英検準1級・TOEIC 860・TOEFL 80・IELTS 6.5レベルの英単語で、「持続する、根強い、粘り強い、しつこい」という意味があります。発音記号は /pɚˈsɪstənt/ です。
持続する、根強い
解説 Definition
症状・問題・天気・傾向などが、すぐには消えず長く続いている状態を表す。人の性格を指す「しつこい」とは別で、客観的に続いていることを述べるときに使う。医療や経済の文脈でもよく使われ、せき・痛み・インフレのような長引く事柄に自然に使える。
Persistent describes something such as a symptom, problem, weather pattern, or trend that does not go away quickly and continues for a long time. It is often used in an objective way to talk about things that keep happening or remain present. This word is common in medical, scientific, and economic contexts, so it fits natural phrases like persistent pain, persistent cough, or persistent inflation. When it describes a person, it can mean determined, but when it describes a situation or condition, it usually means long-lasting or hard to remove.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
persist を知っていれば覚えやすい語。persist が「続ける・持ちこたえる」、-ent が「そういう性質の」で、persistent は「続けてやり抜く／なくならず続く」という感覚。persistent effort なら粘り強い努力で前向き、persistent pain や persistent problem なら「しつこく続く」でやっかい。人に使うと「粘り強い」、物事に使うと「長引く」の両方があると整理すると定着しやすい。stubborn は意地を張る感じで少し別。
If you already know the verb persist, persistent is easy to remember. Persist means "continue" or "keep going," and the ending -ent suggests having that quality, so persistent means "continuing" or "not going away." This helps with both positive and negative uses: persistent effort sounds strong and determined, while persistent pain or a persistent problem means something that keeps bothering you. It is also useful to separate it from stubborn, which is more about a person's attitude.
例文
She went to the doctor because of a persistent cough that lasted for weeks.
何週間も続くせきがあったので、彼女は医者に行った。
The company is struggling with persistent inflation and rising costs.
その会社は根強いインフレとコスト上昇に苦しんでいる。
Despite the persistent rain, the festival continued as planned.
降り続く雨にもかかわらず、その祭りは予定どおり続けられた。
粘り強い
(意味 2)解説 Definition
困難や失敗があっても諦めず、目標に向かって続ける性質を表します。人の努力・態度・決意などに使われ、前向きに評価する文脈でよく使われます。
Persistent describes someone who keeps trying even when things are difficult or when they face failure. It is often used for a person's effort, attitude, or determination when they continue working toward a goal without giving up. The word usually has a positive meaning and suggests steady, patient strength.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
persistent は persist「続ける、やり抜く」に -ent「性質を持つ」が付いた形と考えると覚えやすい語です。persistent person や persistent effort は、途中で止めずに努力し続ける前向きな「粘り強い」。determined は決意の強さ、tenacious はしがみついて離さない強さが目立ちます。別エントリの「しつこい」は、同じ「続く」感覚が迷惑な方向に出た用法です。
You can remember persistent by connecting it with persist, which means "keep going" or "continue." A persistent person or persistent effort does not stop halfway, even when things are hard. Compared with determined, persistent focuses more on continuing over time, while tenacious suggests holding on very strongly.
例文
She was persistent and kept practicing until she could play the song perfectly.
彼女は粘り強く練習を続け、その曲を完璧に弾けるようになった。
His persistent effort helped the team finish the project on time.
彼の粘り強い努力のおかげで、チームは予定どおりにその企画を終えられた。
The researcher remained persistent despite several failed experiments.
その研究者は何度か実験に失敗しても、粘り強い姿勢を保った。
しつこい
(意味 3)解説 Definition
困難な状況でも諦めず、強い意志で取り組む特性を表します。継続力と粘り強さが必要な場面で使われます。
Persistent describes something that continues for a long time or does not stop easily. It can be used for problems, feelings, sounds, or people who keep trying. The word may be positive for effort, but negative for something annoying or difficult.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
この意味の persistent は、人の長所としての「粘り強い」ではなく、要求・音・痛み・問題などがなかなか止まらず相手を困らせる「しつこい」です。persist「続く」の感覚を、迷惑な方向に考えると定着します。persistent cough なら長引く咳、persistent questions なら何度も続く質問。annoying ほど感情に焦点を置かず、「止まらない・消えない」ことが中心です。
Build it from `persist`, meaning continue or keep going. `Persistent` describes someone or something that does not stop easily. It can be positive in `persistent effort`, but negative in `persistent pain` or `persistent problems`, so remember both sides.
例文
His persistent efforts finally led to success.
彼の粘り強い努力は最終的に成功をもたらしました。
She showed a persistent determination to improve her skills.
彼女はスキルを向上させるための粘り強い決意を示しました。
The team's persistent work ethic impressed everyone.
そのチームの粘り強い仕事ぶりはみんなを感動させました。
persistent の語源・成り立ち Etymology
persistent はフランス語を経てラテン語 persistere「しっかり立ち続ける」に由来します。per-「通して」+ sistere「立たせる」で、反対や困難があっても立ち続ける感覚から「しつこい・粘り強い」に。関連語は persist, insist。
Persistent came through French from the Latin word persistere, which meant "to continue firmly" or "to stand firmly." It is built from per-, meaning "through," and sistere, meaning "to cause to stand." This idea developed into the modern sense of continuing strongly or not disappearing.
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