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労力
rōryoku
effort
この作業にはかなりの労力が必要だ。
This task requires a lot of effort.
formal
Physical or mental effort required to do something
労力を惜しまずに仕事に取り組む。
He works without sparing any effort.
この計画には多大な労力が費やされた。
A great deal of effort was put into this plan.
Often used in contexts involving work, labor, or tasks requiring sustained energy.
Pro Tip
Distinguish from 努力 (doryoku)
While 努力 (doryoku) implies deliberate effort toward a goal, 労力 focuses on the *amount* of work or energy expended, regardless of purpose. For example, '労力をかける' means 'to put in effort' (neutral), while '努力する' means 'to strive' (implies goal-oriented action).
Gold Rule
Use 労力 for quantifiable effort
労力 is best used when discussing the *scale* of effort (e.g., 'a lot of effort,' 'minimal effort') rather than the *process* of striving. For goals or achievements, 努力 is more appropriate.
Word Origin
From Middle Chinese 労力 (lâu-lɨk, 'toil, labor'). The Japanese compound combines 労 (rō, 'toil') and 力 (ryoku, 'strength'), forming a word that emphasizes the expenditure of energy in both physical and mental tasks.
Usage Notes
労力 is a neutral term used in both formal and informal contexts. It emphasizes the *amount* of energy or work required, rather than the *quality* or *motivation* behind it (unlike 努力, which implies purposeful striving). It is commonly used in business, labor, and everyday discussions about tasks.
Word Breakdown
労
toil, labor
root力
strength, power
root和英辞典