努力(どりょく)

どりょく
noun, suru-verb
effort, endeavor
1. effort, exertion, endeavor
Sustained effort toward achieving a goal. Emphasizes hard work and perseverance.
もっと努力(どりょく)が必要(ひつよう)だ。
More effort is needed.
努力(どりょく)すれば夢(ゆめ)は叶(かな)う。
If you make an effort, your dreams will come true.
彼(かれ)の成功(せいこう)は努力(どりょく)の結果(けっか)だ。
His success is the result of his efforts.
毎日(まいにち)努力(どりょく)を続(つづ)けることが大切(たいせつ)だ。
It's important to keep making an effort every day.
努力(どりょく)を重(かさ)ねて、やっと試験(しけん)に合格(ごうかく)した。
After sustained effort, I finally passed the exam.

USAGE: 努力(どりょく) is a highly valued concept in Japanese culture. Hard work and perseverance are seen as essential qualities.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 努力(どりょく)する (to make an effort)
  • 努力(どりょく)を重(かさ)ねる (to make continued efforts)
  • 努力(どりょく)の賜物(たまもの) (the fruit of one's efforts)
  • 努力(どりょく)家(か) (hard worker)
  • 努力(どりょく)目標(もくひょう) (effort targets/goals)
  • 不断(ふだん)の努力(どりょく) (constant effort)

CULTURAL NOTE: Japan values 努力(どりょく) highly. The belief that success comes from effort rather than innate talent is deeply ingrained. This is reflected in expressions like 「石(いし)の上(うえ)にも三(さん)年(ねん)」(perseverance will win in the end).

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 頑張(がんば)る (to do one's best)
  • 苦労(くろう) (hardship, trouble)
  • 精進(しょうじん) (devotion, diligence)

Related Words

Related: 頑張(がんば)る (to do one's best)
core
Added 2026.1.12 19:13 · Revised 2026.3.1 9:29
03000/03490_doryoku