頑張る

• Reading: がんばる
• Romaji: ganbaru
• Kanji breakdown: 頑 (gan) — stubborn, firm; 張 (chou/ha) — stretch, put up, strain
• Pronunciation: /ɡa.n.ba.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To persevere; to persist; to do one's best. Giving one's all with determination and effort.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb conjugating with the る row. One of the most iconic Japanese words. 頑張って (ganbatte) is the standard encouragement phrase, equivalent to good luck or do your best. Used constantly in school, work, and sports contexts.

Examples

1. 試験に合格するために頑張ります。 I'll do my best to pass the exam.
2. 彼女は毎日遅くまで頑張っている。 She works hard late into the night every day.
3. 明日も頑張ろうと思います。 I'm going to keep pushing hard tomorrow too.

Usage Guide

Context: encouragement, work, sports

Tone: positive

Origin & History

Composed of 頑 (stubborn, firm) and 張る (to stretch, to put up). Literally suggests stubbornly stretching oneself — giving one's all with unwavering determination. Became widely popular in the modern era.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal