Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "大変" vs "努力"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
大変
たいへん (taihen)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
努力
どりょく (doryoku)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 大変 and 努力 are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
大変 (たいへん (taihen)) represents "tough, difficult, serious (na-adjective); very, extremely (adverb)" (Level: N5) and typically represents Can be an な-adjective.
On the other hand, 努力 (どりょく (doryoku)) translates to "effort; exertion" (Level: N4) and is used for Refers to hard work or earnest endeavor towards a goal. Often used with する. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "大変"
この仕事は時間がかかって大変です。
This job takes a long time and is tough.
Bilingual Sentence for "努力"
彼の成功は日々の努力の結果です。
His success is the result of daily effort.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "この仕事は時間がかかって ＿＿＿ です。" (Meaning: "This job takes a long time and is tough.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "大変" fits here because it represents "tough, difficult, serious (na-adjective); very, extremely (adverb)" in the context: "This job takes a long time and is tough.".