Meaning
The kanji 努 means exerting effort, striving hard, or endeavoring toward a goal. It captures the act of pushing beyond ordinary limits through persistent, dedicated work. Unlike simply working (働く), 努 implies something more intentional — a conscious choice to give one's full will and energy.
Etymologically, 努 is a compound ideograph (会意文字). The upper portion forms 奴 — combining 女 (woman) and 又 (hand) — which acts as the phonetic component. Below it, 力 (ちから, strength) provides the meaning. Together they suggest sustained force applied toward a purpose: the essence of 努.
In modern Japanese, 努 almost always appears in the compound 努力 (どりょく). Few words are as universal — school mottos, workplace slogans, sports broadcasts, and self-improvement books all rely on it. The standalone kun'yomi form 努める (つとめる) appears in formal writing and set phrases. With 7 strokes and taught at elementary school grade 4, it shows up early in Japanese education and stays relevant throughout.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The single on'yomi is ド (do), derived from Middle Chinese. It almost never appears in isolation — its home is inside compound words (熟語). This is the reading you will encounter most in formal, academic, and professional Japanese.
- 努力 (doryoku) — effort, hard work, endeavor. The cornerstone word for this kanji, combining 努 (effort) with 力 (power). It appears across all registers of Japanese.
- 努力家 (doryokuka) — a hard worker, a diligent person. The suffix 家 (ka) marks a person characterized by that quality.
- 不努力 (fudoryoku) — lack of effort. Rare in everyday speech; 努力不足 is the more natural alternative.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi is つと.める (tsutomeru). The dot marks where okurigana (送り仮名) begins: the kanji covers つと, and める is written in hiragana. This form appears in formal writing, literature, and set expressions — meaning to strive, to endeavor, or to make a conscious effort toward something.
- 努める (tsutomeru) — to strive, to make an effort, to endeavor. Common in constructions like 〜するよう努める (to endeavor to do something).
- 努めて (tsutomete) — diligently, making a deliberate effort. Functions as an adverb: 努めて冷静に (making a point of staying calm).
Note: つとめる is a homophone of 勤める (to work at a job) and 務める (to serve a role). Context and kanji choice are essential to distinguish among them.
Common Words & Compounds
Because 努 is focused in meaning, its vocabulary centers on effort, diligence, and striving. Below are the most important words organized by theme.
Core compounds with 努力:
- 努力 (doryoku) — effort, endeavor, hard work
- 努力家 (doryokuka) — a hardworking person, a diligent individual
- 努力賞 (doryokushō) — effort award, a prize for trying hard (common in Japanese schools)
- 努力目標 (doryoku mokuhyō) — an aspirational goal, a target one strives toward
- 努力不足 (doryoku busoku) — insufficient effort, lack of trying
Compounds and phrases with 努める:
- 努めて冷静に (tsutomete reisei ni) — making a deliberate effort to stay calm
- 努めて早起きする (tsutomete hayaoki suru) — to make a point of waking up early
Extended usage and set expressions:
- 努力する (doryoku suru) — to make an effort, to try hard (する verb form)
- 努力を惜しまない (doryoku wo oshimanai) — to spare no effort, to hold nothing back
- 努力が実る (doryoku ga minoru) — for one's efforts to bear fruit, to see results
- 努力を重ねる (doryoku wo kasaneru) — to keep building effort over time
Example Sentences
もっと努力しなければならない。
Motto doryoku shinakereba naranai.
I have to make more effort.
かれは努力家として知られている。
Kare wa doryokuka toshite shirarete iru.
He is known as a hard worker.
努力すれば、夢は必ず叶う。
Doryoku sureba, yume wa kanarazu kanau.
If you work hard, your dreams will surely come true.
かのじょは日本語の勉強に努力を惜しまない。
Kanojo wa nihongo no benkyō ni doryoku wo oshimanai.
She spares no effort in studying Japanese.
健康を保つよう努めています。
Kenkō wo tamotsu yō tsutomete imasu.
I am making efforts to maintain my health.
努力の結果、試験に合格した。
Doryoku no kekka, shiken ni gōkaku shita.
As a result of my efforts, I passed the exam.
努力賞をもらって、とてもうれしかった。
Doryokushō wo moratte, totemo ureshikatta.
I was very happy to receive the effort award.
努めて冷静に話し合った。
Tsutomete reisei ni hanashiatta.
We made a deliberate effort to discuss it calmly.
どんなに困難でも、努力を続けることが大切だ。
Donna ni konnan demo, doryoku wo tsuzukeru koto ga taisetsu da.
No matter how difficult things get, it is important to keep making efforts.
彼女の努力がついに実った。
Kanojo no doryoku ga tsui ni minotta.
Her efforts finally bore fruit.
Memory Tip
Start with the bottom component: 力 (ちから), meaning strength. This radical is the engine of 努 — the whole kanji is built on it. Picture someone gripping a heavy weight and pushing with everything they have. That image of straining muscles is exactly what 努 conveys: maximum force, sustained toward a goal.
Any kanji with 力 at the bottom tends to involve exertion or capability — 努 is the clearest example. Pair that image with 努力 (どりょく), Japanese for hard work, and the kanji will lock into memory.