ChiramiN4 kanji · 10 strokes
勉 means effort
勉
免 escape · 力 strength
勉Memory trick
Escaping (免) only by using all your strength (力): effort, as in 勉強 (study).
Memory trick: a picture to help you remember the kanji, not its history.
Meaning and readings
- Meanings
- exertion, endeavour, encourage, strive
- JLPT level
- N4
- Strokes
- 10
- School grade
- Grade 3 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) つとめる tsutomeru
つとめる (tsutomeru) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
From Chinese (onyomi) ベン ben
ベン (ben) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
勉強 べんきょう · benkyou
study
Built from
Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.
力 Used in 35 kanji
See all 5 at N5 and N4Quick check
What does 勉 mean?
Right: 勉 means effort.Not quite: 勉 means effort.In 勉強, which reading does 勉 use?
Right. 勉強 is read べんきょう (benkyou): 勉 takes ベン, its reading from Chinese.Not quite. 勉強 is read べんきょう (benkyou): 勉 takes ベン, its reading from Chinese.