Translation guide
Expresses doing something with maximum effort or intensity. Japanese uses adverbs like 一生懸命, 精一杯, or verb + できるだけ to convey this idea.
一生懸命頑張ります。
I'll try as hard as I can.
彼は全力で走った。
He ran as hard as he could.
To do something as hard as one can, putting in all one's effort.
Common adverb meaning 'with all one's might' or 'as hard as one can'. Used for earnest effort.
一生懸命勉強した。
I studied as hard as I could.
Means 'to the best of one's ability' or 'with all one's might'. Slightly more formal than 一生懸命.
精一杯頑張ります。
I'll do my best (as hard as I can).
Literally 'as much as one can'. Used before a verb to mean 'as hard as one can' in the sense of doing something to the fullest extent possible.
できるだけ早く走った。
I ran as fast as I could.
Means 'with full power' or 'at full strength'. Often used in sports or physical effort.
全力で走った。
I ran as hard as I could.
Means 'desperately' or 'frantically'. Implies a sense of urgency or life-or-death effort.
必死に逃げた。
I ran away as hard as I could.
To perform an action with the greatest possible force or intensity, such as hitting, shouting, etc.
Means 'with all one's strength' or 'to one's heart's content'. Used for physical actions done without holding back.
思い切りボールを投げた。
I threw the ball as hard as I could.
Means 'to the limit' or 'as much as possible'. Can be used for effort or volume.
一生懸命 is more common in everyday speech and implies earnest, dedicated effort. 精一杯 is slightly more formal and often used to express that one has done everything possible, sometimes with a nuance of 'this is all I can do'.
一生懸命働いています。
I'm working as hard as I can.
精一杯努力しました。
I did my very best.
Avoid directly translating 'as hard as one can' word-for-word. Phrases like できるだけ硬く (as hard as possible in texture) mean something completely different. Use the adverbs listed here for effort or intensity.
彼女は試験のために一生懸命勉強した。
She studied as hard as she could for the exam.
思い切りボールを打って！
Hit the ball as hard as you can!
Literally 'with full strength'. Used for physical force.
力一杯押した。
I pushed as hard as I could.
目一杯叫んだ。
I shouted as loud as I could.