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努めて (tsutomete) Japanese meaning: as much as possible | Kotomora

努つとめて

つ

と

め

て

Common word›JLPTN1›

Meanings

1

as much as possible; diligently; to the best of one's ability

Used when making a conscious effort to do something; often implies striving or trying hard. Common in formal and written contexts.

彼かれは努つとめて

冷れい

静せい

に

話はな

そう

と

し

た

。

He tried to speak as calmly as possible.

努つとめて明あかるく振ふる舞まった。

I made a point of acting cheerfully.

Usage patterns

努つとめて〈動どう詞し〉to make a conscious effort to do something
彼かれは努つとめて明あかるく振ふる舞まった。
He made a conscious effort to act cheerfully.
努つとめて〈形けい容よう詞し〉にto try hard to be (in a certain state)
面めん接せつでは努つとめて冷れい静せいに話はなした。
During the interview, I tried hard to speak calmly.

Kanji

努toil, diligent, as much as possible
勉exertion, endeavour, encourage
力power, strength, strong

Related words

できるだけN4
できるだけ is the everyday way to say 'as much as possible', while 努めて sounds more formal and stresses a deliberate, conscious effort.
なるべくN4
なるべく is a casual, common way to say 'if possible/as much as possible', whereas 努めて is more formal and implies active striving.
極きょく力りょくN1
極力 is a formal word meaning 'to the utmost degree', close in register to 努めて but with a stronger sense of exerting maximum effort.

Don't confuse with

務つとめるN5
努めて comes from 努める 'to strive/endeavor', while 勤める (same reading) means 'to be employed at/work for' a company, so learners often mix up the kanji.

Written forms

努つとめて
Standard kanji spelling for this adverbial use.
勉つとめて
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners should recognize it but use 努めて.
力つとめて
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners should recognize it but use 努めて.

Etymology

Derived from the verb 努める (つとめる, 'to endeavor, to strive'), used adverbially in the て-form.