What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of お仕事 (the polite form of work) and 頑張って (the te-form of the verb meaning to do one's best or persevere).
Which one should you use?
The different forms of this expression change based on the level of politeness and the relationship you have with the person: For a more formal version, you can use Ganbatte kudasai (がんばってください), which translates to "Please do your best." For a more casual, informal tone, you can say Ganbatte ne (がんばってね).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To make it more polite and suitable for use with superiors or people you are not close to, you should use お仕事頑張ってください, which adds kudasai to the end. For friends or close acquaintances, the informal Ganbatte ne (がんばってね) is appropriate.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can add the sentence-final particle ne to the end of the phrase to create お仕事頑張ってね. This softens the tone and makes the encouragement sound more friendly, warm and colloquial, similar to saying "good luck at work, okay?"
How do you pronounce it?
oshigoto ganbatte
Did you know?
- In a professional setting, saying Ganbatte to a superior can actually be seen as rude. Because it sounds like you are commanding them to work harder, it is safer to use more formal structures or avoid the verb entirely when speaking to a boss.
- If you are working in a group, you might hear the phrase Ganbarimashou instead. This shifts the meaning from 'you do your best' to 'let's both do our best together', emphasizing collective effort over individual performance.
- The concept of 'doing one's best' is so central to Japanese culture that it is often used in much more serious contexts, such as during natural disasters or national crises, to encourage a sense of shared resilience.
Examples in context
- 今日もお仕事頑張って。Kyou mo oshigoto ganbatte.Good luck at work today, too.
- 新しいプロジェクト、お仕事頑張ってね。Atarashii purojekuto, oshigoto ganbatte ne.Good luck with your work on the new project.
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are saying goodbye at the door before Ren leaves for the office.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮くん、そろそろ時間だよ。Ren-kun, sorosoro jikan da yo.Ren, it's almost time to go.
- 蓮 Renうん、行ってくるね。Un, itte kuru ne.Yeah, I'm heading out now.
- 美咲 Misakiお仕事頑張って！Oshigoto ganbatte!Good luck at work!
- 蓮 Renありがとう。また後でね。Arigatou. Mata ato de ne.Thanks. See you later.
