synonym Comparative
努めて
VS
切磋琢磨
Differences Between "努めて" and "切磋琢磨"
Option A
努めて
Meaning
as much as possible; as diligently as possible; to try hard (adverbial)
Reading
つとめて (tsutomete)
Syllabus Level
N2
Practical Example
彼は努めて冷静を装っていたが、内心は焦っていた。
He tried his best to appear calm, but inwardly he was panicking.
Option B
切磋琢磨
Meaning
diligent study, assiduous training, friendly rivalry, working hard together and learning from each other
Reading
せっさたくま (sessatakuma)
Syllabus Level
N1
Practical Example
仲間と切磋琢磨し、お互いの技術を高め合った。
We diligently trained and improved our skills together with our peers.
Which one to use?
Select the correct Japanese word for this context
Which word fits this context: "(as much as possible; as diligently as possible; to try hard (adverbial))"?
🎉 正解 / Correct!
使い分け解説:
- 努めて: 「できる限り」「一生懸命に」といった意味で、ある行動を意識的に努力して行う様子を表す副詞です。/ An adverb meaning 'as much as possible' or 'diligently,' describing the act of consciously making an effort to perform an action.
- 切磋琢磨: A four-character idiom (yojijukugo) meaning to work hard and improve oneself by interacting with others, often in a competitive or collaborative learning environment.
- 努めて: 「できる限り」「一生懸命に」といった意味で、ある行動を意識的に努力して行う様子を表す副詞です。/ An adverb meaning 'as much as possible' or 'diligently,' describing the act of consciously making an effort to perform an action.
- 切磋琢磨: A four-character idiom (yojijukugo) meaning to work hard and improve oneself by interacting with others, often in a competitive or collaborative learning environment.
Want to boost your Japanese vocabulary?
Project Eagle automatically tracks and targets your weak words using AI. Practice thousands of operational exams completely for free!