努力
HSK 3 (exam 2025)HSK 2 (2021)Old HSK 3
努力 (nǔlì) · to work hard
努力 (nǔlì) means “to work hard; to try hard; hard-working”. It is written with 2 characters: 努 (to exert) + 力 (strength). It is an HSK 3 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 努力 is built
The characters
努 nǔ · to exert
What 努 is made of
- 奴nú — slave
- 女nǚ — woman
- 又yòu — (once) again
- 力lì — strength
- 丿 — falling stroke
Origin hint: 力 gives the meaning, 奴 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
力 lì · strength
What 力 is made of
- 丿 — falling stroke
Origin hint: A plow's head representing strength (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
他学习很努力。Tā xuéxí hěn nǔlì.He studies very hard.
我会努力工作。Wǒ huì nǔlì gōngzuò.I will work hard.
Questions about 努力
What does 努力 mean?
努力 (nǔlì) means “to work hard; to try hard; hard-working”.
How do you pronounce 努力?
努力 is pronounced nǔlì.
Which HSK level is 努力?
努力 is in HSK 3 (exam 2025) and HSK 2 (2021) and Old HSK 3.
Related words
- 动力dònglìmotivation
- 力量lìliangstrength
- 能力nénglìability
- 实力shílìstrength
- 听力tīnglìlistening (skill)
- 压力yālìpressure
- 尽力jìnlìto do one's best
- 精力jīnglìenergy
- 力气lìqiphysical strength
- 巧克力qiǎokèlìchocolate
Learn 努力 with its group
It is part of HSK 2 (2021) · Group 13: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.