THE WORD GANBATTE

Ganbatte (頑張って) is a very popular word in the Japanese language. It is used in different ways by
the Japanese to encourage people to strive for something. What is the literal translation of this
expression? What is its true meaning? In this article, we will study in depth the word ganbatte.

Simply put, the word ganbatte can literally mean the following expressions below:

 Do your best!
 Go ahead!
 Keep focus!
 Hold on!
 Stay!
 Hard!
 Forces!
 Fight!
 Do not give up!

This word is used to encourage people to strive for something they are doing, whether at school,
work, goal, loss, illness, sports and other things. That is, saying ganbatte will encourage or motivate a
person.

The word ganbatte (頑張って) is actually a conjugation of the verb ganbaru (頑張る) and is also
usually written which means to persevere, persist, insist and remain. Often the expression can be
formal accompanied by kudasai.

THE ORIGIN OF THE WORD GANBATTE IN THE JAPANESE LANGUAGE

The word is written with ideograms of [頑] stubborn, foolish, firm and that means to stretch, spread,
put. But the true origin of the ideogram [張] in the word ganbatte it comes from the verb to fix,
paste, stretch, place, encompass, fill, strike and form.

You must be wondering where did all these words come from? The Japanese language is often
defined by the context of the conversation, one of the reasons for these words and ideograms
having so many translations. Other verbs that use the ideogram [張] is haridasu (張り出す) which
literally means to hang, detach, protrude and overlap. Words like leader, originator, tension,
resistance, rivalry and scheme use the ideogram (張).

These words cited well represent the meaning of the word ganbatte, strongly indicating its use to
encourage people to win and face their goals. It is believed that this expression ganbatte it has been
used since the Edo period, originating from the expression look forward, move on.