努力|どりょくdoryoku[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbeffort; exertion; endeavour; endeavor; hard work; striving
   俺おれはベストを尽つくそうと努力どりょくしている。↗

   I gotta try to do my best.

• Synonym尽力じんりょくWrittenWritten word for devoting full effort to someone or something, as in 「ご尽力いただき」; often used to thank someone for their help.
• Synonym労力ろうりょくNeutralNeutral word for the physical labour or manpower a task requires, as in 「労力がかかる」; focuses on effort spent, while 「努力」 stresses actively exerting oneself.
• Synonym労ろうWrittenWritten word for toil and the contribution it represents, mostly in set phrases like 「労をねぎらう」 and 「労を惜しまない」.
• Synonym努めるつとめるNeutralVerb for striving to do something, typically 「〜に努める」 or 「〜ように努める」, as in 「解決に努める」; 「努力」 works as both noun and verb.
• Synonym取り組みとりくみNeutralNeutral word for concrete initiatives or actions taken to tackle an issue, as in 「環境への取り組み」; stresses the actual steps taken.
• Synonym骨折りほねおりNeutralPains or trouble taken, or effort made for someone else, as in 「お骨折りいただく」; often used to thank someone for their help.
• Related労苦ろうくWrittenWritten word for physical and mental hardship, as in 「労苦をいとわない」; stresses the suffering itself rather than deliberate effort.
• Related苦労くろうNeutralNeutral word for hardship and toil endured, as in 「苦労をかける」; stresses suffering undergone, while 「努力」 stresses effort actively made.
• Related励むはげむNeutralVerb for working diligently at something, as in 「練習に励む」; close to 「努力する」 but with a more positive tone.
• Related奮励ふんれいWrittenWritten word for rousing one's spirit and striving hard; found in speeches or old-fashioned writing, not everyday use.
• Related力行りっこうWrittenWritten word for carrying something out with all one's might, as in 「刻苦力行」; rarely used today, and can also mean a train running under its own power.
• RelatedいそしむWrittenSomewhat literary verb for devoting oneself diligently to something, as in 「勉学に勤しむ」; more elegant than 「努力する」.
• Antonym怠惰たいだWrittenWritten antonym meaning laziness or idleness, as in 「怠惰な生活」; the opposite of making an effort.
• Antonym無為むいWrittenWritten antonym for doing nothing and idling time away, as in 「無為に過ごす」; contrasts with the active exertion of 「努力」.
• Antonym安逸あんいつWrittenWritten antonym for seeking ease and comfort instead of striving, as in 「安逸をむさぼる」; the opposite of diligent effort.

Use 「努力」 for effort you actively put in toward a goal. To speak of effort devoted to someone or something, pick 「尽力」; for hardship endured, 「苦労」; for working diligently at a task, the verbs 「励む」 and 「努める」. Most of the others are written-style words or set phrases, and the last three are antonyms.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 意識いしきして可能かのうな限かぎりの力ちからを出だすこと。