頑張る

Derivation uncertain. The two leading theories are:

• Sense shift from 眼張る (ganbaru, “to keep watch on something, to stare at something”, literally “keep one's eye on something”)[1][2][3]
• Shift in reading from 我に張る (ga ni haru, literally “to stick to one's desires, to insist on one's point of view”)[1][2][3][4]

The sense was originally to be stubborn, to be obstinate, with negative overtones. The modern positive sense of to persist, to endure has arisen since the end of the Edo period in 1868.

The spelling is ateji (当て字),[2][3][5] using the 頑 (gan) character to express a sense of stubborn. The historical kana reading ぐわんばる (gwanbaru) comes from the use of this 頑 character, and is not related to either of the expected derivations above.

Some sources use both 頑張る and 眼張る as spellings for the persist, endure sense.[1] Other sources split these out as entirely separate entries.[2][3]

In light of the senses, the 眼張る derivation seems unlikely.

• (Tokyo) がんば​る [gàńbáꜜrù] (Nakadaka – [3])[2][6][4]
• IPA^(key): [ɡã̠mba̠ɾɯ̟ᵝ]

• 眼張る (depending on references)

頑張る (intransitive, godan conjugation, hiragana がんばる, rōmaji ganbaru, historical hiragana ぐわんばる)

1. to work hard and do one's best to achieve a goal

   頑 (がん)張 (ば)っても痩 (や)せない！？

   Ganbatte mo yasenai!?

   Even though I'm trying so hard, I'm not losing weight!?

2. to strive unrelentingly in the face of difficulty, to persevere

   頑 (がん)張 (ば)って下 (くだ)さい。

   Ganbatte kudasai.

   Do your best →　Good luck!

   大変 (たいへん)でしょうが頑 (がん)張 (ば)ってください。

   Taihen deshō ga ganbatte kudasai.

   It must be difficult for you but please keep up the fight.