try-hard award; consolation prize
A lighthearted, informal award given to someone who tried hard but didn't win; often used in school or workplace settings.
At the sports day, he came in last, but he got a try-hard award.
I practiced every day but lost the match. Still, everyone gave me a consolation prize for trying hard.
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling.
Kana spelling for the first part; common in casual contexts.
A phrase combining 頑張った (past tense of 頑張る, 'to do one's best') + で (case particle) + 賞 ('prize'). The exact origin is uncertain; it likely arose in informal settings like school events.