Effort 努力
doryoku2 characters9 strokes
努力 (doryoku) means effort: working steadily and patiently, step by step, toward a goal you have set for yourself.
Free practice sheet
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Meaning 意味
What 努力 means
The Japanese word for effort, written with 2 kanji and read doryoku.
努力 means keeping at it, little by little, as you work toward a goal. The Japanese sense is of steady, patient work done a bit at a time.
When people write it in Japan. In Japan, 努力 is a popular word for kakizome, the first calligraphy of the New Year, and for goals at the start of a new school term.
Japanese children know every kanji here by 4th grade.
How to write it 書き方
Brush tips for 努力
Three things to watch
- In 努, write the upper part (女 and 又) wide and the 力 (power) at the bottom a little smaller.
- 力 has only 2 strokes. Do not let it get too small; balance its size with 努.
- The 1st stroke of 力 goes across, turns down and flicks up to the left. Stretch the 2nd stroke, the left sweep, long.
Stroke order
Follow the vermilion stroke, frame by frame.
Stroke order data: KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, CC BY-SA 3.0.
How to practice 練習
Trace first, then copy
- PrintPrint both pages at actual size, on US Letter or A4. Page 1 is the model. Page 2 is the tracing sheet.
- TraceTrace the outlines with a brush pen. Or lay thin hanshi paper over the page and trace with brush and ink.
- CopySet the model beside your paper and copy it stroke by stroke. Look at the model more than at your own paper.
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