Translation guide
The English word 'painstaking' describes work, effort, or attention that is extremely careful, thorough, and meticulous. This guide helps learners express this concept naturally in Japanese, focusing on common adjectives, verbs, and set phrases.
He carried out a painstaking investigation.
Means 'careful', 'scrupulous', 'thorough'. Often used for preparations or checks.
Painstaking preparation is necessary.
Similar to 入念な, meaning 'elaborate', 'careful', 'thorough'. Often used for work or planning.
We made a painstaking plan.
A set phrase meaning 'to pay meticulous attention'. Used when extreme care is taken.
I worked with painstaking care.
Means 'elaborate', 'detailed', 'meticulous'. Often used for plans, designs, or analysis.
Painstaking calculations are required.
Describing a task or process that is tedious and requires great patience and attention.
An adjective meaning 'laborious', 'painstaking', literally 'bone-breaking'. Emphasizes the effort involved.
This is painstaking work.
Means 'time-consuming', 'troublesome'. Used for tasks that require a lot of effort and care.
It was a painstaking task.
Means 'requiring patience/perseverance'. Used for tasks that demand sustained careful effort.
It's painstaking, detailed work.
Describing how an action is performed with great care and thoroughness.
Adverbial form of 丹念な. 'Painstakingly', 'meticulously'.
He painstakingly examined the documents.
Adverbial form of 入念な. 'Carefully', 'thoroughly'.
I checked it painstakingly.
Adverbial form of 念入りな. 'Elaborately', 'with great care'.
I cleaned painstakingly.
A phrase meaning 'taking time and effort', 'painstakingly'. Emphasizes the investment of effort.
These three words are very similar and often interchangeable. 丹念 (たんねん) emphasizes meticulousness and thoroughness, often used for research or examination. 入念 (にゅうねん) stresses carefulness and scrupulousness, common for preparations and checks. 念入り (ねんいり) is slightly more colloquial and implies elaborate, detailed work. In many contexts, they can be used interchangeably without significant change in meaning.
Do not translate 'painstaking' literally as 痛みを伴う (いたみをともなう, accompanied by pain) or 苦労する (くろうする, to suffer). These do not convey the meaning of careful, meticulous work. Use the adjectives and phrases provided instead.
She did a painstaking job.
The restoration required painstaking effort.
I completed it painstakingly.