Japanese word

努めて

Pronunciation

Romajitsutomete

Meaning

  • adverbdiligently

Example

彼は努めて人の話を聞きます。kare wa tsuto me te hito no hanashi o ki ki ma su

He tries hard to listen to others.

Illustration for 努めて (diligently)

More examples

相手の立場を考え、努めて丁寧に説明します。ai te no tachi ba o kanga e tsuto me te tei nei ni setsu mei shi ma su

I consider the other person's position and make an effort to explain things carefully.

Core concept

It shows that an action is carried out with conscious effort and persistence.

Common phrases

  • 努めて丁寧に説明するtsuto me te tei nei ni setsu mei su ru

    make an effort to explain carefully

  • 努めて改善するtsuto me te kai zen su ru

    make every effort to improve

Similar words

ひたすらhitasura: An action is continued with attention fixed on one aim.
極力kyokuryoku: An action is carried out to the greatest extent that one's ability allows.
一心にisshinni: An action is performed with the mind focused entirely on one purpose.
精一杯seiippai: An action is carried out using all the effort and ability available.

Definition in Japanese

できる限り力を尽くして物事を行うさま。de ki ru kagi ri chikara o tsu ku shi te mono goto o okona u sa ma

Word origin

The adverb 努めて (tsutomete, "diligently") comes from the te-form of the native verb 努める (tsutomeru, "to strive"), which gives the adverbial sense of acting with effort.

Usage tips

  • Formal Japanese often uses 努めて (tsutomete) before verbs such as 改善する (kaizen suru) and 説明する (setsumei suru) to describe sustained efforts.

Other meanings

  • as much as possibleadverb

Opposites

  • 怠惰taidalazyna-adjective

Word lists with this word