取り組む・取組む|とりくむtorikumu[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
取り組む取り組む is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it when choosing between these two spellings.
取組む取組む is a less common written variant. Beginners should use 取り組む instead when choosing between the two forms.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto grapple with; to wrestle with; to engage in a bout; to be matched against
- godan verb, intransitive verbto tackle (e.g. a problem); to come to grips with; to work hard on
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 取り組む（とりくむ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 取り組みます（とりくみます） |
| Negative (nai) | 取り組まない（とりくまない） |
| polite (masen) | 取り組みません（とりくみません） |
| classical zu / nu | 取り組まず・取り組まぬ（とりくまず・とりくまぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 取り組んだ（とりくんだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 取り組みました（とりくみました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 取り組まなかった（とりくまなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 取り組みませんでした（とりくみませんでした） |
| Te form | 取り組んで（とりくんで） |
| Potential | 取り組める（とりくめる） |
| Passive | 取り組まれる（とりくまれる） |
| Causative | 取り組ませる（とりくませる） |
| Causative passive | 取り組ませられる・取り組まされる（とりくませられる・とりくまされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 取り組めば（とりくめば） |
| tara | 取り組んだら（とりくんだら） |
| Volitional | 取り組もう（とりくもう） |
| polite (mashou) | 取り組みましょう（とりくみましょう） |
| Imperative | 取り組め（とりくめ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym取っ組むとっくむCasualColloquial: to grapple or throw yourself into dealing with something; synonymous with 「取り組む」 but more casual.
- Related立ち向かうたちむかうNeutralTo face something bravely, as in 「困難に立ち向かう」; stresses rising to meet difficulty head-on.
- Related戦うたたかうNeutralTo fight or battle, as in 「病気と戦う」; stresses contending against an opponent.
- RelatedぶつかるNeutralTo run into or be faced with something, as in 「問題にぶつかる」; stresses the encounter rather than the effort to solve it.
- Related対抗たいこうNeutralNoun: opposing a rival, as in 「対抗策」; stresses matching up against an opponent.
- Related直面ちょくめんNeutralNoun: being confronted with something, as in 「危機に直面する」; stresses facing a situation rather than working on it.
- Related対戦たいせんNeutralNoun: facing an opponent in a match or contest, as in 「対戦相手」; used for competitive matchups.
- Related格闘かくとうNeutralNoun: hand-to-hand fighting, or wrestling with a hard problem, as in 「難問と格闘する」.
- Related奮闘ふんとうNeutralNoun: fighting or striving hard, as in 「孤軍奮闘」; stresses exerting every ounce of strength.
- RelatedチャレンジNeutralLoanword: taking on a challenge, as in 「新しいことにチャレンジ」.
- Relatedぶち当たるぶちあたるCasualColloquial: to slam into an obstacle, as in 「壁にぶち当たる」; carries a sense of being thwarted, while 「取り組む」 is actively setting to work.
- Antonym放棄ほうきNeutralAntonym: giving up or abandoning something; the opposite of 「取り組む」.
- Antonym放置ほうちNeutralAntonym: leaving something as is and ignoring it; the opposite of 「取り組む」.
Use 「取り組む」 for seriously setting to work on a task, as in 「環境問題に取り組む」; it can also mean to face off in a sumo bout. Choose 「立ち向かう」 to confront difficulties head-on, 「直面する」 to face a crisis, 「チャレンジ」 to try something new; the opposite is 「放棄」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
