Chinese–EnglishWith examples

努力

nǔ lì · nu li

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 2Old HSK 3

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to make an effort; to try hard; to strive
  2. hard-working; conscientious
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In a conversation

0:22 cartoon

Practicing calligraphy

  1. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)每天(měitiān)都(dōu)练字(liànzì)，真(zhēn)努力(nǔlì)。

    You practice calligraphy every day. You really work hard.

  2. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)写(xiě)得(de)更(gèng)好(hǎo)，所以(suǒyǐ)要(yào)更(gèng)努力(nǔlì)。

    I want to write better, so I must work even harder.

  3. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)相信(xiāngxìn)你(nǐ)，努力(nǔlì)就(jiù)会(huì)有(yǒu)好(hǎo)结果(jiéguǒ)。

    I believe in you. Hard work brings good results.

  4. Dengdeng

    谢谢(xièxie)。你(nǐ)也(yě)很(hěn)努力(nǔlì)啊(a)。

    Thanks. You work hard too.

  5. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)昨天(zuótiān)也(yě)努力(nǔlì)练(liàn)了(le)十分钟(shífēnzhōng)，然后(ránhòu)睡着(shuìzháo)了(le)。

    Yesterday I also tried hard for ten minutes, then fell asleep.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

他(tā)很(hěn)努(nǔ)力(lì)工(gōng)作(zuò)，所(suǒ)以(yǐ)他(tā)的(de)同(tóng)事(shì)们(men)都(dōu)尊(zūn)敬(jìng)他(tā)。

He works really hard, and his co-workers respect him for it.

Tatoeba: Chinese by FeuDRenais · English by FeuDRenais · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

我(wǒ)努(nǔ)力(lì)地(de)改(gǎi)善(shàn)我(wǒ)的(de)成(chéng)绩(jì)。

I made efforts to improve my grades.

Tatoeba: Chinese by Martha · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

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How to write

Stroke order & practice

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
努
nǔ

to exert; to strive

力
lì

power; force

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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