Translation guide
Describes doing something with great effort, difficulty, or in a painstaking manner. Japanese expresses this through adverbs, mimetic words, and verb phrases that emphasize hard work, slowness, or meticulousness.
To do something requiring a lot of physical or mental effort, often slowly and with struggle.
He laboriously carried the luggage.
Literally 'breaking bones', this phrase emphasizes strenuous physical effort. Slightly more casual than 苦労して.
I laboriously tilled the garden.
An onomatopoeic adverb meaning diligently and steadily, often with a sense of repetitive, laborious work. Implies persistence.
She laboriously organized the documents.
Mimetic word for steady, painstaking effort, like 'plugging away'. Focuses on the slow, continuous nature of the work.
He is laboriously writing his thesis.
To do something with meticulous care, often slowly, emphasizing the detailed and careful nature of the work.
Means 'painstakingly' or 'meticulously'. Used when great care and attention to detail are required, often for crafts, research, or detailed tasks.
The craftsman laboriously makes furniture.
Similar to 丹念に, but can imply even more thoroughness or double-checking. Often used for preparations or inspections.
Means 'carefully and slowly', taking one's time. Emphasizes not rushing and giving full attention.
I laboriously solved the problem, taking my time.
To do something in a way that looks difficult, awkward, or strained, often physically.
Mimetic word for staggering or trudging along with difficulty, often due to exhaustion or heavy burden. Vividly describes laborious movement.
He walked laboriously under the heavy load.
Mimetic word for moving slowly and sluggishly, as if with great effort. Can be used for both physical and mental slowness.
Exhausted, I laboriously climbed the hill.
Mimetic word for dawdling or fumbling, implying inefficiency and lack of skill. Slightly negative nuance.
苦労して emphasizes the hardship and effort involved, while 丹念に focuses on the careful, meticulous nature of the work. Use 苦労して when the difficulty is the main point, and 丹念に when the attention to detail is key.
He laboriously reached the summit (emphasizing the struggle).
He laboriously drew the map (emphasizing the care).
There is no single Japanese word that covers all uses of 'laboriously'. Translating it as 労働的に (rōdō-teki ni) would be unnatural. Choose an adverb or phrase that matches the specific nuance of effort, slowness, or meticulousness.
He laboriously worked out the plan.
The beginner was laboriously operating the machine.