# 努 — strive

努 means “strive”. It is a JLPT N2 kanji written with 7 strokes. On'yomi: ド (do). Kun'yomi: つと(める) (tsutomeru). You'll see it in words such as 努める (tsutomeru, “to endeavor; to try hard”).

- Meaning: strive
- On'yomi: ド (do)
- Kun'yomi: つと(める) (tsutomeru)
- Strokes: 7
- Level: JLPT N2 · set Doing & acting

## How to remember 努

Sounds like 奴: both read ド.

Parts: 奴 guy · 力 power

## Words with 努

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 努める | つとめる (tsutomeru) | to endeavor; to try hard |
| 努めて | つとめて (tsutomete) | as much as possible; as far as possible |

## Don't confuse it with

[奴](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/guy/) · [怒](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/angry/)

## More in the “Doing & acting” set

[占](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/occupy/) · [頼](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/rely-on/) · [努](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/strive/) · [救](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/save/) · [招](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/invite/) · [探](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/look-for/)

---

From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/strive/. Last updated 2026-11-01.