励む

• Reading: はげむ
• Romaji: hagemu
• Kanji breakdown: 励 (hage/rei) — encourage, strive, endeavour
• Pronunciation: /ha.ɡe.mɯ/

Meaning

To work hard; to strive; to devote oneself to an endeavour. Conveys sustained, earnest effort.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb. Takes に to mark the activity one is striving at. More formal and literary than 頑張る, and often used in written Japanese, speeches, and business contexts.

Examples

1. 彼は毎日練習に励んでいる。 He devotes himself to practice every day.
2. 試験に合格するために勉強に励んだ。 I worked hard at my studies to pass the exam.
3. 社員一同、業務に励んでまいります。 We, the staff, will continue to dedicate ourselves to our work.

Usage Guide

Context: work, study, sports, business

Tone: earnest

Origin & History

The kanji 励 combines 力 (power/strength) and 厲 (whetstone/sharpen), conveying the image of sharpening one's efforts.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal