勉 means “effort”

べん · ben

Also: exertion, endeavour, encourage, strive

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

つとめる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ベン

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 3 · 10 strokes

The story

A figure straining against great resistance beside raw strength (力): effort at its most absolute. Japanese honors hard study with this intensity: 勉強 is not just learning, it is strength willingly spent.

Used in 勉強 (benkyou, study), 勤勉 (kinben, diligence), and 勉強家 (benkyouka, studious person)

More from Scholar's Path

• 漢 China
• 意 meaning
• 強 strong
• 説 explain
• 研 polish
• 究 research
• 質 quality
• 験 test
• 英 English

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.