"Ganbatte!" is what the Japanese say when someone has a big project, such as passing an exam, winning a competition, or embarking on a long journey.

Unlike in Western countries, you don't just wish "Good luck!".

When they say "Ganbatte!", the Japanese mean something like: "Do your best!", but also "Keep at it!" and "Don't give up!" It carries a completely different message than the everyday "Good luck!" and the attitude to life that stands behind it can also get you through some difficult phases during your studies and doctorate.

To understand what the Japanese mean by "ganbatte", it is worth taking a closer look at the word.

"Ganbatte" comes from the Japanese verb "ganbaru" and means something like "hold on", "stick to it", stick to one's point of view or even refuse to move from the spot.

The verb 頑張る(“ganbaru”) is composed of two words: 頑, “kataku”, which means something like stubborn or stubborn, and 張, “haru”, which means something like stretch, but also in a broader sense to be persistent means.

Read together, the signs mean "hanging on with stubbornness".

do what you can

The expression is also often translated as "Do your best!" For a long time, this sentence sounded like a demand to make an effort to achieve something - without even knowing the goal of this effort.

In my mind, doing my best was tied to the idea that I should work hard, work hard, put extra effort into every small task, and take as few breaks as possible.

Ever since I got the idea behind the Japanese word "ganbatte," I try to approach it differently when I want to do my best.

In his book Ganbatte!

The Japanese Art of Always Moving Forward” Albert Liebermann sums up the concept of “ganbatte” as follows: “Do everything you can as best you can and if things don't turn out the way you want them to, then it is that alright;

you don't need to feel bad because you did everything in your power."

"Ganbatte" is more empowering and motivating than "Good luck" for several reasons: You can say it not only to others, but also to yourself;

it is a reminder not to rely on external factors, but to take action for the part of a project that you can influence yourself - every single day according to your own capacities.

It's important to believe in yourself—while not always believing everything you tell yourself, especially if you have a tendency to discourage yourself or if you're trying to absurdly find reasons for not doing something to find, which one then also has to justify to oneself.