取り組み（とりくみ、torikumi）
- effort

The Japanese word 取り組み (torikumi) refers to an effort, initiative, undertaking, or a commitment to do something. It encompasses the act of tackling or addressing a task, challenge, or problem. It emphasizes the active engagement and the process of working on something. 取り組み can also refer to the substance of the work being done, such as the content or details of the effort. It suggests a focus on perseverance and dedication. 取り組み implies a proactive and engaged approach to achieving a goal.

⚫︎ 新しいプロジェクトへの取り組み Translation: Efforts towards a new project ⚫︎ 環境問題への取り組みを強化する。 Translation: To strengthen efforts to solve environmental problems. ⚫︎ その問題に対する企業の取り組みが評価された。 Translation: The company's efforts towards the problem were evaluated.

This word is widely used in both formal and informal contexts. You can use 取り組み to describe various actions, such as: ⚫︎ Business endeavors ⚫︎ Social issues ⚫︎ Personal goals ⚫︎ Academic pursuits It is appropriate when you want to highlight the dedication and active involvement in a certain activity or project. It is common to see the verb form of this word, like 取り組む, being used to describe the action itself.

取り組み is typically written in kanji and hiragana: 取り組み. The kanji is 取り (take, get) and 組 (assemble, put together), while the み is a suffix indicating a noun form. There are no other ways to write this word. The okurigana is standard, with 組 followed by み.

⚫︎ 努力 (doryoku) - effort ⚫︎ 活動 (katsudou) - activity ⚫︎ 事業 (jigyou) - project, undertaking ⚫︎ 試み (kokoromi) - attempt, trial ⚫︎ 活動 (katsudou) - activity, initiative

While there isn't a single direct antonym, words that imply inaction or lack of effort could be considered as opposites in a sense: ⚫︎ 放置 (houchi) - leaving something untouched ⚫︎ 怠慢 (taiman) - negligence, carelessness ⚫︎ 放棄 (houki) - abandonment

社員のスキルアップのための取り組みを始めました。 ・Translation: We have started an effort to improve the skills of our employees. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the commencement of an effort for the development of employee skills, emphasizing the proactive nature of the initiative.

政府は少子化対策のための新しい取り組みを発表しました。 ・Translation: The government announced a new initiative to counter the declining birthrate. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the use of 取り組み to describe a governmental initiative aimed at solving a social issue.

The word 取り組み comes from the verb 取り組む (torikumu). 取り means "to take" or "to handle," and 組む means "to put together" or "to assemble." Thus, 取り組む means to tackle, to engage with, or to work on something. The み at the end of 取り組み is a noun-forming suffix.