Japanese

Noun

チャレンジ ‎(romaji charenji)

1. self-challenge; trying hard to do something
   • 1988 July 30, Fujiko F. Fujio, “コマーさる [Monketing]”, in ひとりぼっちの宇宙戦争 [The One-Man Cosmic War] (藤子不二雄少年SF短編集; 1), volume 1 (fiction, in Japanese), 16th edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, ISBN 4-09-140701-3, page 52:

     じゃ、まんがをやめるの？

     Ja, manga o yameru no?

     So, are you gonna quit making manga?

     いや、最 (さい)後 (ご)のチャレンジをこころみる‼

     Iya, saigo no charenji o kokoromiru‼

     No, I'm making one last attempt‼

Verb

チャレンジする ‎(romaji charenji suru)

1. to try to do something

Usage notes

• This word has shifted meaning from the English word challenge from which it came. It refers to challenging oneself, or taking on a challenge, rather than an attack on something. Therefore this word should be used when the speaker is taking on a new task, a new challenge. It is not to be translated literally as the verb challenge, or one will end up with sentences like "he is a challenging person" or "I will challenge tennis."