Key Facts
- Hangul: 노력하다 (noryeokada)
- Meaning: to make effort
- Part of speech: verb (동사)
- Level: A2
- Stem: 노력하
- Class: 하다 type
- Objects: intransitive
- Spoken as: [노려카다]
- Honorific polite: 노력하세요
What Does 노력하다 Mean?
노력하다 means putting sustained effort toward something, usually with 열심히 (diligently). It normally has no object. The goal is expressed with -(으)려고, as in 합격하려고 노력해요, or with 을/를 위해, as in 시험을 위해 노력했어요. It appears in motivational phrases such as 노력하면 돼요 (if you try, you can do it), and often pairs with 열심히. The adverb is optional. The noun 노력 (effort) can also be used on its own.
How Do You Pronounce 노력하다?
The 하 after ㄱ joins the sound: the dictionary form is said [노려카다], with ㄱ and ㅎ merging into ㅋ. That is why the Revised Romanization is noryeokada, with k. The polite present 노력해요 is said [노려캐요], the past 노력했어요 is said [노려캐써요], and the formal present 노력합니다 is said [노려캄니다].
How Do You Use 노력하다 in a Sentence?
저는 매일 열심히 노력해요.
I work hard every day.
저는 sets the speaker, 매일 (every day) gives frequency and 열심히 adds diligence. The polite present 노력해요 describes a habit.
시험을 위해 노력했어요.
I made an effort for the exam.
시험을 위해 (for the exam) names the goal. The past 노력했어요 is the polite past.
노력하면 잘할 수 있어요.
If you try hard, you can do well.
노력하면 is the condition, and 잘할 수 있어요 is the encouraging result.
How Does Noryeokada Conjugation Work?
노력하다
| Form | Korean | Romanization | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polite present | 노력해요 | ||
| Polite past | 노력했어요 | ||
| Polite future (plan) | 노력할 거예요 | ||
| Polite future (intention or guess) | 노력하겠어요 | ||
| Formal present | 노력합니다 | ||
| Formal past | 노력했습니다 | ||
| Formal future | 노력할 것입니다 | ||
| Casual present | 노력해 | ||
| Casual past | 노력했어 | ||
| Casual future | 노력할 거야 | ||
| Want to (polite) | 노력하고 싶어요 | ||
| Honorific polite | 노력하세요 | ||
| Because / and then | 노력해서 | ||
| Conditional (if) | 노력하면 | ||
| Present modifier (before a noun) | 노력하는 | ||
| Past modifier (before a noun) | 노력한 | ||
| Future modifier (before a noun) | 노력할 | ||
| Negative with 안 (short) | 노력 안 해요 | ||
| Negative (long form) | 노력하지 않아요 |
| Form | Korean | Sound if different |
|---|---|---|
| Polite present | 노력해요 | [노려캐요] |
| Polite past | 노력했어요 | [노려캐써요] |
| Polite future (plan) | 노력할 거예요 | [노려칼꺼예요] |
| Polite future (guess) | 노력하겠어요 | [노려카게써요] |
| Formal present | 노력합니다 | [노려캄니다] |
| Formal past | 노력했습니다 | [노려캗씀니다] |
| Formal future | 노력할 것입니다 | [노려칼꺼심니다] |
| Casual present | 노력해 | [노려캐] |
| Casual past | 노력했어 | [노려캐써] |
| Casual future | 노력할 거야 | [노려칼꺼야] |
| Want to (polite) | 노력하고 싶어요 | [노려카고 시퍼요] |
| Honorific polite | 노력하세요 | [노려카세요] |
| Because / and then | 노력해서 | [노려캐서] |
| Conditional (if) | 노력하면 | [노려카면] |
| Modifier, present | 노력하는 | [노려카는] |
| Modifier, past | 노력한 | [노려칸] |
| Modifier, future | 노력할 | [노려칼] |
| Short negative | 노력 안 해요 | — |
| Long negative | 노력하지 않아요 | [노려카지 아나요] |
Is 노력하다 Regular or Irregular?
노력하다 is a 하다-type verb. The noun 노력 stays fixed and 하다 becomes 해 before 아/어: 노력해요, 노력했어요. Other endings keep 하: 노력하고, 노력하면, 노력하세요. The short negative splits the noun from 하다 and puts 안 between them: 노력 안 해요 (see negating 하다 verbs). The ㄱ + ㅎ merger in speech is a sound matter, not a spelling change. The lesson on 하다 to 해요 explains the full pattern.
Common Mistake with 노력하다
Wrong: ✗ 한국어를 노력해요
Correct: ✓ 한국어를 배우려고 노력해요
Why: Learners put the target as a direct object and write 한국어를 노력해요. The verb takes no object; use -(으)려고 노력하다 to name the aim.
노력하다 Versus 애쓰다 and 연습하다 and 열심히 하다
| Word | How it differs |
|---|---|
| 애쓰다 | 애쓰다 is a native Korean word for striving hard. |
| 연습하다 | 연습하다 is to practise something repeatedly. |
| 열심히 하다 | 열심히 하다 is to do something diligently. |
A Dialogue While Preparing a Presentation
A teacher asks a learner about an upcoming presentation. 노력하다 lets the learner talk about the effort going into speaking more naturally, without claiming that the goal has already been achieved.
Teacher
발표 준비는 어때요?
Balpyo junbineun eottaeyo?
How is your presentation preparation going?
Learner
자연스럽게 말하려고 노력해요.
Jayeonseureopge malharyeogo noryeokaeyo.
I am working on speaking naturally.
Teacher
지난주에도 열심히 노력했어요.
Jinanjuedo yeolsimhi noryeokaesseoyo.
You worked hard last week too.
Learner
네. 내일도 노력할 거예요.
Ne. Naeildo noryeokal geoyeyo.
Yes. I will keep making an effort tomorrow too.
노력해요 describes current effort, 노력했어요 recognizes last week's work, and 노력할 거예요 expresses a plan to continue. The goal appears in 자연스럽게 말하려고, “in order to speak naturally.” The main verb reports effort rather than a guaranteed result.
Common Phrases with 노력하다 and 노력
열심히 노력하다 means to make a diligent effort. 열심히 tells you how someone works; 노력하다 names the effort itself. You can use the verb without 열심히, especially when the rest of the sentence already explains the effort or its purpose.
꾸준히 노력하다 means to keep making an effort steadily. 꾸준히 emphasizes continuity over time. It suits a long study project or a habit you are building; it does not specifically mean that each session is intense.
노력을 기울이다 literally pictures directing or pouring effort toward something. Its practical meaning is “put effort into.” It is useful in written explanations of work on a project or a problem. Here 노력 is a noun taking 을; that does not turn the separate verb 노력하다 into a verb with a direct object.
노력이 필요하다 means “effort is needed.” This names a requirement rather than reporting that someone is already trying. The noun 노력 is the subject, so the phrase has a different structure from a person saying 노력해요.
Where Will You Meet 노력하다?
Students use 노력하다 when discussing improvement, and workers use it when explaining goals or responding to feedback. Interviews and formal statements often use effort language because it can express commitment without promising a specific outcome.
The word is neutral, but telling someone 노력하세요 can sound like criticism if they have already worked hard. In the dialogue, the teacher acknowledges past effort before the learner offers to continue. That context makes the exchange supportive. The grammar alone cannot make an instruction encouraging.
How Specific Should the Goal Be?
A goal clause makes effort easier to understand. 한국어를 배우려고 identifies learning Korean as the aim. 자연스럽게 말하려고 narrows it further to speaking naturally. The object marker in 한국어를 belongs with 배우다, “learn”; it does not make Korean a direct object of 노력하다.
The shorter phrase 시험을 위해 names the exam as what the effort is for. It leaves the exact activity open: studying, reviewing mistakes or practicing questions could all count. Choose a verb-based goal when the action matters and a noun-based goal when the purpose is enough.
노력하다 and 연습하다 also answer different questions. 노력하다 says that someone tries hard. 연습하다 says they practice, usually by repeating an activity. For a presentation, repeated speaking practice is one kind of effort. If you want to explain what you actually did, name that activity as well.
What Spelling Details Should You Keep?
Write 노력해요 as one word when using the ordinary verb. In the short negative 노력 안 해요, 안 separates the noun and 하다, as shown in the table. In the long negative 노력하지 않아요, the space comes before 않아요. Both patterns express a lack of effort, so use them carefully when describing someone else.
The sound of ㄱ beside ㅎ does not change the spelling 노력하. In the polite past, the ending becomes 했어요, giving 노력했어요. Match the written form to the 하다 pattern even when the spoken consonant sounds like ㅋ.
Related Words for Effort and Outcomes
| Korean | Meaning | How it connects |
|---|---|---|
| 노력 | effort | The noun inside 노력하다. |
| 목표 | goal | What the effort aims toward. |
| 연습 | practice | A concrete activity that can support the goal. |
| 결과 | result | The outcome, which effort alone does not guarantee. |
For study situations, the exams and grades vocabulary lesson gives you words for goals and results.
Mini Drill: State Your Effort
- Give the polite past of 노력하다.
- Give the future form ending in 거예요.
- Give the short negative from the table.
- Complete the goal clause using 배우다 (to learn): 한국어를 ____ 노력해요.
Show drill answers
- 노력했어요.
- 노력할 거예요.
- 노력 안 해요.
- 배우려고: 한국어를 배우려고 노력해요. The goal clause names learning Korean as the aim.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 노력했어요 guarantee success?
- Which word emphasizes steady effort over time: 꾸준히 or 결과?
- In 한국어를 배우려고 노력해요, which verb takes 한국어를?
Show answers
- No. It reports effort.
- 꾸준히. 결과 means result.
- 배우다, to learn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 노력하다 Take an Object?
No. Use -(으)려고 (in order to) or 을/를 위해 (for the sake of) to show the goal: 시험을 위해 노력했어요.
Why Is There a K in Noryeokada?
In speech, ㄱ and ㅎ merge into ㅋ, [노려카다], and Revised Romanization shows that aspiration in verbs, so it writes k.
Which Word Goes Well with 노력하다?
열심히 (hard, diligently): 열심히 노력해요 is a very common pairing.
How Do I Say 'I Tried Hard to Learn Korean'?
한국어를 배우려고 노력했어요, with -(으)려고 naming the goal.
Which Words Are Related to 노력하다?
What Should You Learn Next?
Pair 노력하다 with 연습하다, then add 성공하다, 공부하다 and 포기하다 to talk about goals. You can check other forms in the Korean verb conjugator or browse the Korean verb dictionary.