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.
He is studying very hard.
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.
I'll do my best for the exam.
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.
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.
He ran desperately.
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.
To make strenuous efforts.
Literally 'like a dying person gone mad'. Very strong, dramatic expression for desperate, frantic effort. Used in extreme situations.
I studied like crazy (desperately).
To describe physically demanding, strenuous work or effort.
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.
Please don't push yourself too hard.
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.
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'.
This job is hard physical labor.
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.
He put his heart and soul into the project.