synonym Comparative
大変な
VS
頑張る
Differences Between "大変な" and "頑張る"
Option A
大変な
Meaning
tough; hard; severe; dreadful; serious; enormous
Reading
たいへんな (taihen na)
Syllabus Level
N3
Practical Example
仕事が大変だったけど、やりがいがあった。
The job was tough, but it was rewarding.
Option B
頑張る
Meaning
to do one's best, to try hard, to persevere
Reading
がんばる (ganbaru)
Syllabus Level
N3
Practical Example
試験のために毎日頑張って勉強しています。
I'm studying hard every day for the exam.
Which one to use?
Select the correct Japanese word for this context
Which word fits this context: "(tough; hard; severe; dreadful; serious; enormous)"?
🎉 正解 / Correct!
使い分け解説:
- 大変な: A 'na-adjective' used to describe something difficult, arduous, or significant in scale. It can also express 'very' or 'terrible' depending on context. (物事が困難である、骨が折れる、または規模が大きいことを表す「な形容詞」です。文脈によっては「非常に」や「ひどい」という意味も持ちます。)
- 頑張る: A very common and versatile verb expressing effort, persistence, and encouragement. Often used as an exclamation 「頑張って！」(Do your best!).
- 大変な: A 'na-adjective' used to describe something difficult, arduous, or significant in scale. It can also express 'very' or 'terrible' depending on context. (物事が困難である、骨が折れる、または規模が大きいことを表す「な形容詞」です。文脈によっては「非常に」や「ひどい」という意味も持ちます。)
- 頑張る: A very common and versatile verb expressing effort, persistence, and encouragement. Often used as an exclamation 「頑張って！」(Do your best!).
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