Understanding 労力
The word 労力 (ろうりょく) refers to physical or mental effort, labor, or trouble invested in accomplishing a task. It often implies that the task requires significant energy or dedication.
Usage and Nuance
労力 is commonly used in formal or written contexts to emphasize the amount of effort or work someone puts into something. It can refer to both physical labor and mental effort. When you use 労力, you highlight the seriousness or difficulty of the work.
Common Collocations
- 労力をかける: to put effort into something
- 労力を惜しまない: to spare no effort
- 多くの労力: a lot of effort
These phrases are useful when praising someone's dedication or describing the demands of a project.
Register and Politeness
労力 is a neutral to formal noun, suitable for business, academic, or polite conversation. It is less common in casual speech where 努力 (どりょく) might be preferred.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 労力 with 努力. 努力 focuses more on personal effort or striving, while 労力 emphasizes the labor or trouble involved, often including physical work. Use 労力 when you want to stress the workload or the trouble taken rather than just personal striving.