Sentence #334668 from Tatoeba · translation adapted
How 努力 is built
Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.
努nǔto exert
奴slave · núSound part
力strength · lìMeaning part
力 hints at the meaning (strength); 奴 (nú) hints at the sound. Compare it with nǔ.
力lìpower
力 is a single shape of 2 strokes. Learn it whole, then watch its stroke order below.
Memory aidThought to show an old plough, and pulling it took strength: strength, power.
How to write 努力
努 7 strokes · 力 2 strokes
Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.
Stroke order chart for 努力 (nǔlì). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.
努力 (nǔlì) means “to work hard” or “to strive”. It is an HSK 3 word.
Say it nǔlì: nǔ with a 3rd tone, then lì with a 4th tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
Yes. 努力 is written the same way in Simplified and Traditional characters.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type nuli with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 努力 from the suggestions. Typing nuli into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
努力 is an HSK 3 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.
Turn words into conversations
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Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.
努nǔ3rd tone, dipping
力lì4th tone, falling
