努めて・勉めて・力めて|つとめてtsutomete[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
努めて努めて（つとめて） is the most common spelling and the standard choice for learners. Its kanji-and-kana form is the one you will encounter most often.
勉めて勉めて（つとめて） is a rarely used kanji-and-kana variant. You will seldom encounter it, so normally use 努めて（つとめて） instead.
力めて力めて（つとめて） is a rarely used kanji-and-kana variant. You will seldom encounter it, so normally use 努めて（つとめて） instead.
Definitions
- adverbas much as possible; as far as possible; to the best of one's ability; diligently
Synonyms & antonyms
- SynonymなるべくNeutralMeans 'as much as possible' (「なるべく早く」); the most common choice in speech, while 「努めて」 is more written and stresses conscious effort.
- Synonym可及的かきゅうてきWrittenFormal 'as ... as possible' (「可及的速やかに」); the language of official documents.
- SynonymせっせとNeutralMeans working diligently (「せっせと働く」), with the nuance of doing something steadily without a break.
- SynonymなるたけNeutralAlso 'as much as possible' (「なるたけ急ぐ」); colloquial in flavor but rather dated.
- RelatedせいぜいNeutralCovers both 'do your best' and 'at most' (「せいぜい頑張れ」), and is sometimes sarcastic.
- Antonym怠けてNeutralMeans lazing off (「怠けてばかり」) and stands as the opposite of the effort implied by 「努めて」.
Use 「努めて」 for consciously doing something as much as possible (「努めて明るく振る舞う」「努めて冷静に」); it leans written. In speech say 「なるべく」; in official writing 「可及的」; for steady diligence 「せっせと」. The opposite is 「怠けて」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
