Translation guide
Expressing the idea of putting in great physical or mental effort, often over a period of time. Japanese has several common words and phrases that convey this, ranging from general hard work to intense, exhausting struggle.
Describing sustained, diligent effort in work, study, or daily life.
The most common and neutral word for effort or hard work. Can be used in almost any context.
彼は努力して試験に合格した。
He passed the exam through hard work.
努力が実を結んだ。
The effort paid off.
Emphasizes persistence and doing one's best. Often used in encouragement or to praise someone's effort.
彼女の頑張りには感心する。
I admire her hard work.
Literally 'with all one's might'. An adverb meaning very hard, with maximum effort. Often used with verbs like 頑張る or 働く.
一生懸命勉強した。
I studied very hard.
Conveying effort that is physically or mentally draining, like a battle or ordeal.
Strenuous effort, often in the face of difficulty. Implies a struggle or fight. Common in sports, work, or personal challenges.
選手たちの奮闘に感動した。
I was moved by the players' strenuous efforts.
彼は病気と奮闘している。
He is struggling against illness.
Hardship, toil, or great effort involving suffering or difficulty. Often used for long-term struggles.
Focusing on bodily effort, often manual labor or athletic training.
Heavy labor, physically demanding work. Often used for manual jobs.
建設現場は重労働だ。
Construction work is strenuous labor.
Intense exercise or physical activity. Used for sports or workouts.
激しい運動の後は水分補給が大切だ。
Hydration is important after strenuous exercise.
Effort that taxes the mind, such as studying, problem-solving, or artistic creation.
Painstaking effort, often mental. Implies careful thought and trial-and-error.
苦心の末、解決策を見つけた。
After strenuous mental effort, I found a solution.
Literally 'use one's head'. A casual way to say something requires mental effort.
このパズルはかなり頭を使う。
This puzzle requires a lot of mental effort.
努力 is the most general term for effort. 頑張り emphasizes persistence and doing one's best, often with emotional support. 奮闘 implies a struggle against difficulty, like a fight.
努力は必ず報われる。
Effort will always be rewarded.
君の頑張りを認めているよ。
I recognize your hard work.
彼の奮闘は称賛に値する。
His strenuous efforts deserve praise.
I'm grateful to my parents who raised me with great effort.
A four-character idiom meaning a desperate struggle against great odds. Very strong and dramatic.
新事業の立ち上げに悪戦苦闘している。
We are struggling desperately to launch the new business.