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March 24, 2026
努力nǔlì(nu3li4)
努力 (nǔlì) means to put in great effort or to strive towards a goal. It is commonly used in contexts where individuals are working hard to achieve something, whether academically, professionally, or personally. The term embodies a sense of determination and perseverance.
Frequency#528DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 努力 is deeply valued and often associated with success, particularly in education and career advancement. It reflects the traditional belief in hard work leading to achievement.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (the character 努) pushing a heavy boulder (力) up a hill. The effort they exert symbolizes the meaning of 'to strive' or 'to try hard'. Visualizing this struggle can help you remember both the pronunciation and the character's meaning.
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AI Study Notes for 努力
Quick Contrast
努力 (nǔlì) vs 尽力 (jìnlì) — use 努力 when emphasizing sustained effort towards a goal, while 尽力 focuses on doing one's best in a specific situation.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person (the character 努) pushing a heavy boulder (力) up a hill. The effort they exert symbolizes the meaning of 'to strive' or 'to try hard'. Visualizing this struggle can help you remember both the pronunciation and the character's meaning.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 努力 with similar words that imply ease or lack of effort, such as 放松 (fàngsōng, to relax). 努力 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, and common collocations include '努力工作' (to work hard) and '努力学习' (to study hard).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 努力 connects well with other verbs related to action and effort, such as 学 (to learn) and 做 (to do). Students should focus on using it in sentences to express personal goals or ambitions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 努力 is deeply valued and often associated with success, particularly in education and career advancement. It reflects the traditional belief in hard work leading to achievement.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to use 努力 in context, resulting in sentences like '我努力' (Wǒ nǔlì) without specifying what they are striving for. A correct form would be '我努力工作' (Wǒ nǔlì gōngzuò) to convey the full meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 努力
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Grammar Patterns of 努力
努力 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
In Chinese culture, the concept of 努力 is deeply valued and often associated with success, particularly in education and career advancement. It reflects the traditional belief in hard work leading to achievement.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, the emphasis may also be on hard work, but there is often a stronger focus on work-life balance compared to the more collectivist approach in Chinese culture that prioritizes effort and perseverance.
Frequently Asked Questions about 努力
You can say '我会努力学习' (Wǒ huì nǔlì xuéxí), which means 'I will study hard.'
Some synonyms include 努劲 (nǔjìn, to strive) and 奋斗 (fèndòu, to fight for).
Yes, it can be used to express excessive effort to the point of harming oneself, such as in '他努力过头了' (Tā nǔlì guòtóule), meaning 'He overexerted himself.'
