► 動詞
頑張る [(3)がんばる] meaning: effort rank: 1
☆ 子供のために頑張ろうと思う ⇨ I’m determined to work hard for my children
☆ 頑張れ！ ⇨ Hanging in there!
► 名詞
頑張り [がんばり] meaning: effort rank: 2
☆ 彼は頑張りが足りない ⇨ He is lacking efforts
要領 [(3)ようりょう] [要領が悪い] meaning: effort rank: 2
☆ 私は子供の時から要領が悪かった ⇨ I have never been smooth, shrewd, quick learner, effortless, since I was a kid (☛ Doesn’t mean “stupid” or “incompetent”. Rather not good at doing things with minimal efforts)
要領 [(3)ようりょう] [要領が良い] meaning: effort rank: 2
☆ 彼は大していい仕事をしないのに要領が良いので出世している ⇨ He hasn’t done particularly good job but knows how to make himself look good, and that’s why he gets promoted (☛ Doesn’t mean “intelligent” or “competent”. Rather just good at doing things with minimal efforts, often with passable results)
頑張り屋 [がんばりや] meaning: effort rank: 3
☆ 彼女は大変な頑張り屋だ ⇨ She’s a real hard worker (☛ Especially someone works hard despite adverse conditions)
努力家 [どりょくか] meaning: effort rank: 3
☆ 彼は大変な努力家だ ⇨ He is a real hard worker