Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To make an effort, to try hard: "gắng công" means to exert oneself, to put in strenuous effort to accomplish something.
   • To strive, to endeavor: It conveys a sense of determined and diligent effort towards a goal.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Anh ấy đã gắng công học tiếng Anh mỗi ngày. (He made an effort to study English every day.)
  • Dù khó khăn, cô ấy vẫn gắng công hoàn thành công việc đúng hạn. (Despite the difficulties, she still strived to complete the work on time.)
  • Chúng tôi sẽ gắng công hết sức để đạt được mục tiêu. (We will try our level best to achieve the goal.)

Advanced Usage

• "Cố gắng công": This is a less common variant that emphasizes the "effort" aspect even more strongly.
  • Phải cố gắng công lắm mới có kết quả như vậy. (One had to put in tremendous effort to get such a result.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gắng sức (verb phrase): To exert strength, to make a physical or mental effort. It is very close in meaning but can imply more physical exertion.
  • Vận động viên gắng sức trong những mét chạy cuối cùng. (The athlete exerted himself in the final meters of the race.)
• Nỗ lực (verb/noun): To strive, to endeavor; effort. This is a more formal synonym.
  • Sự nỗ lực của anh ấy thật đáng khâm phục. (His effort is truly admirable.)
• Cố gắng (verb): To try, to attempt. This is the most common and general word for "to try" or "to make an effort".
  • Hãy cố gắng lên! (Try harder!/Keep going!)

Synonyms

• Ra sức (verb phrase): To exert one's strength, to try hard. (From the Vietnamese-Vietnamese definition: "Ra sức làm việc").
• Phấn đấu (verb): To struggle, to strive (often for an ideal or long-term goal).
• Cố (verb): To try, to attempt (a simpler, more colloquial form).

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Gắng công gắng sức": This is a reinforcing phrase combining "gắng công" and "gắng sức" to mean "to put in all one's effort".
  • Cả nhà gắng công gắng sức lo cho đứa trẻ. (The whole family put in all their effort to care for the child.)
• "Có công mài sắt, có ngày nên kim": (Proverb) Literally "With effort in grinding iron, there will be a day it becomes a needle." It means "Persistent effort leads to success." This proverb encapsulates the spirit of "gắng công".

1. Do one's llevel best