“to make an effort” in Japanese is 勉, read ben (べん). It is a Grade 3 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 3 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 勉強 (study).
What does 勉 mean?
毎日勉強する。
| Kanji | 勉 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | to make an effort |
| Readings | べん |
| Grade | Grade 3 (Medium) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 勉強 (study) |
勉 is read ben (べん) depending on the word.
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side: