nǔlì: 努力 - To Strive, To Try Hard, Hardworking

• Keywords: nuli, nǔlì, 努力, Chinese for effort, try hard in Chinese, hardworking Chinese, Chinese study motivation, diligence in Chinese, 加油 vs 努力
• Summary: “努力 (nǔlì)” is a fundamental Chinese word meaning to make a great effort, to strive, or to be hardworking. More than just “trying,” it represents a core cultural value of sustained, diligent effort as a path to success and a testament to one's character. Whether you're studying for an exam, working on a project, or encouraging a friend, understanding nǔlì is essential for grasping the Chinese perspective on achievement and personal virtue.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): nǔlì
• Part of Speech: Verb, Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To make a great effort; to strive; to be hardworking.
• In a Nutshell: 努力 (nǔlì) is the action of putting in serious, focused work to achieve a goal. It’s the “sweat and tears” part of any task. If you're staying up late to study or practicing a skill over and over, you are being 努力. It's both something you *do* (a verb) and a quality you *have* (an adjective).

• 努 (nǔ): To exert, to put forth effort. This character combines 奴 (nú), an old character related to servitude, with 力 (lì) at the bottom. The idea is of exerting oneself with great force, like a laborer mustering all their strength.
• 力 (lì): Strength, power, force. This is a simple and ancient character, a pictogram of a muscular arm or a plow, representing physical power.

The combination 努力 (nǔlì) literally means “to exert strength.” It creates a vivid and direct image of applying one's full power and energy towards a task.

In Chinese culture, 努力 (nǔlì) is more than just a word; it's a foundational virtue. From a young age, children are taught that 努力 is the key to success, particularly in the hyper-competitive academic and professional worlds. It's deeply connected to the concept of 吃苦 (chīkǔ), or “eating bitterness,” which frames enduring hardship not as a negative, but as a necessary and noble part of the journey to achievement. A useful comparison is with the Western idea of “passion.” In the West, advice is often “find your passion, and you'll never work a day in your life.” Success is often attributed to innate talent or finding the “right fit.” In contrast, the traditional Chinese perspective places a much heavier emphasis on grit and perseverance. Success is seen not as a product of passion or genius, but as the direct result of sustained 努力. The process of striving itself is seen as a moral good that builds character, regardless of the final outcome. This belief is the engine behind the incredible dedication seen in students preparing for the national college entrance exam, the 高考 (gāokǎo).

努力 (nǔlì) is an extremely common and versatile word used in all aspects of life.

• In Education and Work: This is its most common habitat. Parents tell children to 努力学习 (nǔlì xuéxí) (study hard). Bosses expect employees to 努力工作 (nǔlì gōngzuò) (work hard). It's a standard and expected part of life.
• As Encouragement: When someone is facing a challenge, you can say “继续努力 (jìxù nǔlì)” (keep up the hard work). It's a statement of recognizing their past effort and encouraging them to continue.
• As a Personal Pledge: People often use it to express their own commitment. “我会努力的 (wǒ huì nǔlì de)” means “I will try my best/I will work hard,” and it carries a sincere promise of dedication.
• Describing a Person: You can describe someone as “一个很努力的人 (yī gè hěn nǔlì de rén),” meaning “a very hardworking person.” This is a significant compliment.

Its connotation is almost always positive, and it can be used in both formal and informal settings without issue.

• Example 1:
  • 为了通过考试，我每天都努力学习。
  • Pinyin: Wèile tōngguò kǎoshì, wǒ měi tiān dōu nǔlì xuéxí.
  • English: In order to pass the exam, I study hard every day.
  • Analysis: This is a classic use case. 努力 acts as an adverb modifying the verb “to study” (学习). It shows a direct cause-and-effect relationship between effort and a goal.
• Example 2:
  • 他是一个很努力的员工，老板很喜欢他。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì yī gè hěn nǔlì de yuángōng, lǎobǎn hěn xǐhuān tā.
  • English: He is a very hardworking employee, the boss likes him a lot.
  • Analysis: Here, 努力 is used as an adjective to describe the employee (员工). The structure “很 + 努力 + 的 + Noun” is very common.
• Example 3:
  • 我会努力的，请您放心。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ huì nǔlì de, qǐng nín fàngxīn.
  • English: I will work hard, please don't worry.
  • Analysis: This is a common phrase used to reassure someone (like a parent or a manager). It functions as a promise of future effort. The particle “的” at the end softens the tone and adds a sense of certainty.
• Example 4:
  • 只要我们努力，就一定能成功。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyào wǒmen nǔlì, jiù yīdìng néng chénggōng.
  • English: As long as we work hard, we can definitely succeed.
  • Analysis: This sentence showcases the cultural belief that effort leads to success. The “只要…就…” (zhǐyào…jiù…) structure means “as long as…then…” and is frequently paired with 努力.
• Example 5:
  • 你的中文进步很快，一定很努力吧！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de Zhōngwén jìnbù hěn kuài, yīdìng hěn nǔlì ba!
  • English: Your Chinese has improved so fast, you must be working very hard!
  • Analysis: This is a way to compliment someone. It attributes their success (fast improvement) to their hard work. 努力 functions as an adjective here. The “吧 (ba)” at the end makes it a speculative question, softening the statement.
• Example 6:
  • 我们必须努力寻找解决方案。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū nǔlì xúnzhǎo jiějué fāng'àn.
  • English: We must strive to find a solution.
  • Analysis: In this more formal or professional context, 努力 is paired with another verb (寻找, to search for) to mean “strive to do something.”
• Example 7:
  • 光说不练，不努力是不行的。
  • Pinyin: Guāng shuō bù liàn, bù nǔlì shì bùxíng de.
  • English: All talk and no action, not working hard is not okay.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 努力 in the negative to criticize a lack of effort. “是不行的” (shì bùxíng de) is a strong way to say something is unacceptable.
• Example 8:
  • 感谢大家的努力，项目提前完成了。
  • Pinyin: Gǎnxiè dàjiā de nǔlì, xiàngmù tíqián wánchéng le.
  • English: Thanks to everyone's hard work, the project was completed ahead of schedule.
  • Analysis: Here, 努力 is used as a noun (“the hard work/effort of everyone”). The structure “Subject + 的 + 努力” is common for this usage.
• Example 9:
  • 虽然这次失败了，但我已经努力过了。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán zhè cì shībài le, dàn wǒ yǐjīng nǔlì guò le.
  • English: Although I failed this time, I already tried my best.
  • Analysis: The particle “过 (guò)” indicates a past experience. “努力过” emphasizes that the action of trying hard was completed, valuing the effort itself even in the face of failure.
• Example 10:
  • 她为了实现梦想，一直在努力奋斗。
  • Pinyin: Tā wèile shíxiàn mèngxiǎng, yīzhí zài nǔlì fèndòu.
  • English: In order to realize her dream, she has been constantly striving and struggling.
  • Analysis: This shows 努力 paired with another, similar verb, 奋斗 (fèndòu), for emphasis. 努力奋斗 is a common combination that means to strive with intense, continuous effort towards a major goal.

A major point of confusion for learners is the difference between 努力 (nǔlì) and 加油 (jiāyóu).

• 努力 (nǔlì) is the action of working hard. It's what you do.
• 加油 (jiāyóu) is the encouragement you give to someone. It's what you say to get them to 努力.

Think of it this way: a coach shouts “加油!” from the sidelines to a player who is 努力-ing on the field. Incorrect Usage:

• Mistake: 我在加油学习中文。(Wǒ zài jiāyóu xuéxí Zhōngwén.)
• Why it's wrong: This literally means “I am 'adding oil' to study Chinese.” You are mixing the encouragement with the action.
• Correct: 我在努力学习中文。(Wǒ zài nǔlì xuéxí Zhōngwén.) - I am working hard to study Chinese.
• Correct: A friend says to you: “你学习中文，加油!” (Nǐ xuéxí Zhōngwén, jiāyóu!) - You're studying Chinese, go for it!

Another nuance is comparing 努力 to the English “I'll try.” In English, “I'll try” can sometimes imply a weak commitment. In Chinese, saying “我会努力的 (wǒ huì nǔlì de)” is a much stronger and more sincere statement. It means “I will genuinely put in my best effort.”

• 加油 (jiāyóu) - An exclamation of encouragement; “Go for it!”; “Come on!”. Used to cheer someone on to 努力.
• 奋斗 (fèndòu) - To struggle, to fight for, to strive. More intense than 努力 and often used for long-term, life-changing goals like one's career or national prosperity.
• 勤奋 (qínfèn) - Diligent, industrious. This is a character trait, describing a person who is habitually hardworking. 努力 can be a one-time action, while 勤奋 is a continuous state.
• 用功 (yònggōng) - To study hard, to be studious. This is specifically used for academic effort. It's a more specific version of 努力 applied to learning.
• 辛苦 (xīnkǔ) - Hard, toilsome, exhausting. This describes the difficulty or hardship of the work. If you 努力, the work might make you feel 辛苦. For example: “你工作很努力，辛苦你了” (You work so hard, that must have been tough for you).
• 尽力 (jìnlì) - To do one's best, to try one's utmost. A close synonym of 努力, but it focuses more on the idea of exhausting all of one's available strength (“尽” means to exhaust).
• 吃苦 (chīkǔ) - To bear hardship, literally “to eat bitterness.” The cultural value of enduring hardship, which is seen as a necessary prerequisite for success achieved through 努力.