頑張る
がんばる · ganbaru · JLPT N4 · verb-godan
to try one's best
💪 頑張る = stubborn (頑) + stretch (張): stubbornly stretch yourself
頑 means stubborn or firm, 張 means to stretch or pull taut. Together: hold firm and stay stretched to the limit, hence to persist and try your best. Sound hook: gan-BAR-u, keep raising the bar.