1.
to strive, to endeavor, to make an effort
To exert oneself toward a goal or to try one's best to do something. Typically used with ～ように努める or ～に努める patterns.
健康に努める。
I work to maintain my health.
早く寝るように努めている。
I'm making an effort to go to bed early.
問題の解決に努めたが、なかなか進まなかった。
I strove to solve the problem, but it didn't make much progress.
Distinguished from the homophones 務める (to serve in a role/position) and 勤める (to work at a company). 努める specifically means making a conscious effort or striving toward something.
KEY PATTERNS:
- ～に努める — to work toward ~
- ～ように努める — to make an effort to ~
- 努めて (adverbial) — making an effort to; deliberately
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 改善に努める — to strive to improve
- 理解に努める — to try to understand
- 冷静でいるように努める — to try to stay calm
- 節約に努める — to try to economize