頑張る (ganbaru) means to persist or make an effort despite difficulty. 頑張って is an encouragement such as “hang in there” or “do your best,” depending on context. It can feel supportive or pressuring, so consider what the listener is facing.
also ganbaru / 頑張って / 頑張ります / 頑張れ
to persevere; to keep at it under strain · to give it everything you have · 頑張って — hang in there; go for it
Sentences
6 sentences, word by word
頑張って · to someone facing something
polite
、。
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明日
あした ［3］
tomorrow
noun · read あした in speech, あす in announcements
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の
の
links noun to noun
particle · A の B = B belonging to A
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試験
しけん ［2］
exam
noun · a formal examination, unlike テスト for a class test
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頑張って
がんばって
hang in there
て-form of 頑張る · aimed at the listener, who faces the strain
頑張ってN4hang in there · go for it
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ください
ください
please (do)
polite request · from くださる
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Do your best on the exam tomorrow.
頑張ります · about yourself
polite
。
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一生懸命
いっしょうけんめい ［5］
with everything I have
adverb · how the effort is made, so it sits before the verb
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頑張ります
がんばります
I'll do my best
polite of 頑張る · about yourself, which is what ます signals here
頑張りますN4I'll do my best
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I'll give it everything I've got.
頑張っている · already at it
polite
。
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彼
かれ ［1］
he
pronoun · also means boyfriend, decided by context
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は
は
as for — the topic
particle · written は, read わ
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毎日
まいにち ［1］
every day
noun · used adverbially, no particle needed
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頑張っています
がんばっています
is working hard
ている of 頑張る · describing effort already under way
頑張っているN4is working at it
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He's been working hard every day.
頑張った · said afterwards
plain
。。
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よく
よく ［1］
well
adverb · praising how the effort went, not how often
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頑張った
がんばった
you kept at it
plain past of 頑張る · the effort is over, so it is praised
頑張ったN4you did well
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ね
ね
(shared feeling)
particle · inviting agreement, which makes the praise warmer
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休んで
やすんで
rest
て-form of 休む · a bare て-form is a soft request between friends
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ね
ね
(softening)
particle · warmth, matching the plain register of 頑張ったね
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You did really well. Get some rest.
無理しないで · the kinder alternative
plain
。
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無理
むり ［1］
overdoing it
noun · beyond what is reasonable, made a verb with する
無理しないでN4don't overdo it
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しないで
しないで
don't do
negative て-form of する · a gentle request not to
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ね
ね
(softening)
particle · warmth, and it makes the request less like an instruction
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Don't push yourself too hard.
頑張りましょう · including yourself
polite
。
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お互い
おたがい ［0］
each other; both of us
noun with honorific お · the effort is shared, not assigned
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に
に
to; at; into
particle · a point something reaches — a place, a time, a person, or a state
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頑張りましょう
がんばりましょう
let's keep at it
volitional polite of 頑張る · the speaker is included in the effort
頑張りましょうN4let's keep at it
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Let's both keep at it.
Forms
The forms and who they are aimed at
頑張って＋（ください / ね）
頑張ってください is the polite version, 頑張ってね the warm one. Both aim the effort at the listener.
頑張り＋ます / ましょう
The reply to an instruction or an expectation. 頑張りましょう includes the other person in it.
頑張って＋いる / います
彼は頑張っています. Describing someone who is putting the work in — and the form to use instead of 頑張って when they already are.
頑張った＋ね / でしょう
よく頑張ったね. Said afterwards, and one of the kindest things you can say in Japanese.
Meaning
頑張る vs 努力する vs 一生懸命
The strain is part of the word.頑張る is not simply trying — it is continuing when continuing is hard. That is why it fits an exam, an illness, a long job hunt, and why it sounds odd for something easy.
努力する is the formal, neutral one. Effort as a quantity, with no implication of hardship. It belongs in writing and in self-appraisals: 努力しています. Nobody shouts it from the side of a pitch.
一生懸命 describes how, not whether. It is an adverb — 一生懸命頑張る is normal and not redundant, because 一生懸命 is saying with everything you have and 頑張る is saying keep going.
It can land as pressure. To someone already at their limit, 頑張って can read as “try harder” — which is why 無理しないでね exists and is often the kinder thing to say. Japanese speakers make this choice deliberately.
Watch out
Where 頑張る goes wrong
Treating it as “good luck”
Luck is not part of it. 頑張って asks for effort, so it does not fit things you cannot influence — you would not say it to someone buying a lottery ticket.
Saying 頑張って to someone already at their limit
It can read as “try harder.” If they are visibly exhausted, 無理しないでね or 頑張っているね acknowledges the effort instead of demanding more.
Using 頑張れ with a superior
The plain imperative is for friends, teammates and sports crowds. To a manager or a client it is far too blunt — 頑張ってください is the form that travels upward.
Using it for something easy
The word carries strain. Applying it to a trivial task sounds sarcastic, in much the same way “hang in there” would in English.
Also asked
Questions people ask about 頑張る
Does 頑張って mean “good luck”?
Not really. English uses “good luck” where Japanese uses 頑張って, but the Japanese asks for effort rather than wishing for fortune. For something purely down to chance, うまくいくといいですね is closer.
Why is 頑張って sometimes unwelcome?
Because it asks for more effort, and the person may already be giving everything. Saying 頑張っているね recognises what they are doing; 無理しないで releases them from doing more.
頑張る or 努力する?
努力する is formal and neutral — effort as a quantity, for writing and appraisals. 頑張る carries the strain and belongs in speech.
Is 一生懸命頑張る redundant?
No. 一生懸命 says with everything you have; 頑張る says keep going. The combination is completely ordinary.
