Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "やる気" vs "努力"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
やる気
やるき (yaruki)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
努力
どりょく (doryoku)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both やる気 and 努力 are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
やる気 (やるき (yaruki)) represents "motivation, willingness (to do something)" (Level: N2) and typically represents 何かをしたいという意欲や気持ち。カジュアルな表現で、「やる気がある/ない」「やる気を出す」などの形でよく使われる。.
On the other hand, 努力 (どりょく (doryoku)) translates to "effort, exertion, endeavor" (Level: N2) and is used for 目標達成のために力を尽くすこと。動詞として「努力する」の形で使われることが多い。地道な積み重ねを表す。. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "やる気"
最近、仕事のやる気が出ない。
Lately, I don't feel motivated to work.
Bilingual Sentence for "努力"
彼の努力が実を結んだ。
His efforts bore fruit.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "最近、仕事の ＿＿＿ が出ない。" (Meaning: "Lately, I don't feel motivated to work.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "やる気" fits here because it represents "motivation, willingness (to do something)" in the context: "Lately, I don't feel motivated to work.".