Translation guide
Expresses the idea of putting in great effort, working hard, or striving diligently. Japanese has many nuanced expressions for this, ranging from general hard work to intense, exhaustive effort.
To express that someone is working hard, putting in effort, or being diligent in a general sense.
The most common and versatile way to say 'working hard' or 'with all one's might'. Suitable for most situations.
彼は一生懸命勉強している。
He is studying very hard.
一生懸命働きます。
I will work hard.
A very common verb meaning 'to do one's best', 'to persevere', or 'to work hard'. Often used to encourage others or describe one's own efforts.
試験のために頑張ります。
I'll do my best for the exam.
頑張って！
Do your best! / You can do it!
Means 'to make an effort' or 'to strive'. Slightly more formal than 頑張る, often used in writing or serious contexts.
彼は成功するために努力した。
He made efforts to succeed.
To emphasize that the effort is extremely intense, exhausting, or pushed to the limit.
Literally 'with all one's might' or 'desperately'. Conveys a sense of frantic, life-or-death effort.
彼は必死に走った。
He ran desperately.
必死に働いても、お金が足りない。
Even though I work desperately, I don't have enough money.
Similar to 必死に, meaning 'eagerly' or 'with all one's strength'. Often used in written language.
懸命に努力する。
To make strenuous efforts.
Literally 'like a dying person gone mad'. Very strong, dramatic expression for desperate, frantic effort. Used in extreme situations.
死に物狂いで勉強した。
I studied like crazy (desperately).
To describe physically demanding, strenuous work or effort.
Refers to 'hard work' or 'strenuous labor', often used for demanding jobs or tasks.
彼は激務で疲れている。
He is tired from the strenuous work.
To express that someone is straining themselves, pushing beyond normal limits, or making a supreme effort.
Means 'to overdo it', 'to push oneself too hard', or 'to strain oneself'. Often carries a nuance of doing something unreasonable or beyond one's capacity.
あまり無理をしないでください。
Please don't push yourself too hard.
彼は無理をして働きすぎた。
He pushed himself too hard and overworked.
Idiom meaning 'to work oneself to the bone' or 'to exert oneself to the utmost'. Literally 'to turn one's body into powder'.
To describe focusing one's energy entirely on a task, often with dedication or single-mindedness.
Means 'to devote oneself to', 'to throw oneself into', or 'to be absorbed in'. Used for passionate, focused effort on a specific activity.
彼は研究に打ち込んでいる。
He is devoting himself to his research.
頑張る is the everyday word for 'do one's best' and is used in both casual and formal encouragement. 努力する is more about making a conscious, sustained effort and is often used in serious or written contexts. 頑張って！ is a common cheer, while 努力してください sounds more like 'please make an effort'.
The English word 'strenuous' does not have a single direct equivalent. Use context-appropriate phrases like 激しい運動 (strenuous exercise) or 激務 (strenuous work). Translating 'strenuous efforts' as 激しい努力 is possible but less common than 必死の努力 or 懸命な努力.
Means 'heavy labor' or 'hard physical work'.
この仕事は重労働だ。
This job is hard physical labor.
彼は家族のために身を粉にして働いた。
He worked himself to the bone for his family.
Literally 'to pour one's heart and blood into'. A strong expression for putting all one's energy and passion into something.
彼はそのプロジェクトに心血を注いだ。
He put his heart and soul into the project.