Translation and Meaning of: 努める - tsutomeru

The Japanese word 努める [つとめる] carries a deep and everyday significance at the same time. If you've ever wondered how to express "to strive" or "to dedicate oneself" in Japanese, this verb is a key piece. In this article, we will explore its meaning, usage in real contexts, and even tips to memorize it effortlessly. Suki Nihongo, your favorite Japanese dictionary, has gathered accurate information to help students and curious individuals master this expression.

Meaning and usage of 努める

努める means "to strive," "to make an effort," or "to dedicate oneself" to something. Unlike other verbs like 頑張る (ganbaru), which emphasizes persistence, 努める has a more formal tone and reflects a continuous commitment. For example, an employee might say 仕事に努めます (shigoto ni tsutomemasu) to express that they will dedicate themselves to work.

This verb frequently appears in professional or academic settings, where deliberate effort is valued. An interesting detail is that it is rarely used in casual situations among friends – for this, the Japanese prefer more colloquial expressions.

Origin and composition of kanji

The kanji 努 combines the radical for "strength" (力) with the component 奴 (which historically represented "work" or "service"). This combination is not random: it reflects the idea of applying strength to a task. Sources like Kanjipedia confirm that the character originated in ancient China, associated with the concept of diligent labor.

It's worth noting that 努める is the kun'yomi (Japanese) reading of the kanji. In the on'yomi (Chinese) reading, it appears in words like 努力 (doryoku), which means "effort." This duality helps to understand how the same ideogram adapts to different linguistic contexts.

Tips for memorizing and using correctly

A practical way to remember 努める is to associate it with situations that require visible effort. Think of an athlete training or a student preparing for exams. This mental image helps to anchor the meaning faster than memorizing random vocabulary lists.

Be careful not to confuse 努める with 勤める (tsutomeru), which means "to work for an organization." The difference lies in the initial kanji: while 努 focuses on effort, 勤 relates to continuous service. A common mistake among students is to swap these verbs in sentences like 会社に努める (wrong) instead of 会社に勤める (correct).

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 努力する (Doryoku suru) - Make an effort, strive.
• 頑張る (Ganbaru) - Persist, strive to the maximum in a task or situation.
• 務める (Tsutomeru) - Fulfill a function, dedicate oneself to a responsibility or task.
• 努める (Tsutomeru) - To strive, to make a conscious effort to achieve something.
• 努む (Tsutomu) - Commit or strive in a specific task.

努める

Romaji: tsutomeru
Kana: つとめる
Type: Noun
L: jlpt-n2

Translation / Meaning: strive; make great effort; try hard

Meaning in English: to exert oneself;to make great effort;to try hard

Definition: Make an effort. Work hard.

Example Sentences - (努める) tsutomeru

See below some example sentences:

私は常に努めることを忘れずにいます。

Watashi wa tsuneni tsutomeru koto wo wasurezu ni imasu

I always strive without forgetting.

I always remember working.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 常に (tsuneni) - adverb meaning "always"
• 努める (tsutomeru) - verb that means "to strive"
• こと (koto) - noun that means "thing"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 忘れずに (wasurezu ni) - expression that means "without forgetting"
• います (imasu) - verb that indicates the action of being present, in this case, "I am present"

私は努めて日本語を勉強しています。

Watashi wa tsutomete Nihongo wo benkyou shiteimasu

I am striving to study Japanese.

I'm working hard to study Japanese.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 努めて - verb meaning "to strive" or "to work hard"
• 日本語 - noun meaning "Japanese", the Japanese language
• を - object particle indicating the direct object of the action, in this case "study"
• 勉強しています - compound verb meaning "to be studying", in the present continuous tense

私たちは常に顧客の要望に応えるよう努めています。

Watashitachi wa tsuneni kokyaku no yōbō ni kotaeru yō tsutomete imasu

We are always striving to meet our customers' demands.

We always strive to respond to customer needs.

• 私たちは - We
• 常に - Always
• 顧客 - Clients
• の - in
• 要望 - Orders
• に - For
• 応える - Attend
• よう - For
• 努めています - We're making an effort