A Banned Word

Few days ago, it was a hot topic that Japanese television stations put up the phrase "頑張れ (go for it)" as a candidate of banned words.

Apparently, someone seems to have made a complaint such as that the phrase gives us the pressure.

However, I can't understand the reason well.

"頑張れ" is a generic phrase that is used when you cheer someone, and I have used it well.

I heard a complaint like "I feel annoyed when someone said '頑張れ' to me, because I'm already working hard," but if I'm in the situation, I will be so impressed when I heard someone say that.

There seem to be a gap in how to feel for the phrase even among Japanese.

This may be because the phrase have several meanings, such as "hang in there," "do your best," "good luck," and "you can do it."

We need to pay attention.

放送禁止用語

先日、日本のテレビ局が「頑張れ」を放送禁止用語の候補に入れていることが話題になりました。

なにやら、「プレッシャーを感じる」というクレームが入ったことが原因のようです。

しかし、あまり理解できません。

「頑張れ」は誰かを応援する際に用いる汎用的なフレーズで、私もよく使ってきました。

中には「既に頑張っているのに頑張れと言われると腹が立つ」という人がいますが、私は必死に頑張っている状態でも「頑張れ」と声をかけてもらえると涙が出るくらい嬉しくなります。

日本人の間でも言葉に対するイメージに隔たりができているようです。

これは、「頑張れ」が様々な意味を含んでいることに起因しているかもしれません。

注意が必要ですね。

• Apparently, someone seems to have made a complaint such as that the phrase gives us the pressure.
• Apparently, someone seems to have complained that the phrase gives us the pressure.

• "頑張れ" is a generic phrase that is used when you cheer someone, and I have used it well.
• "頑張れ" is a generic phrase that is used when you cheer someone, and I have used it as well.

• I heard a complaint like "I feel annoyed when someone said '頑張れ' to me, because I'm already working hard," but if I'm in the situation, I will be so impressed when I heard someone say that.
• I heard the complaint was like "I feel annoyed when someone says '頑張れ' to me, because I'm already working hard," but if it were me, I would become so inspired if I heard someone say that.

  Alternative: "I heard the complaint was like "I feel annoyed when someone says '頑張れ' to me, because I'm already working hard," but if it were me, hearing that would encourage me to keep going.

• There seem to be a gap in how to feel for the phrase even among Japanese.
• There seems to be a gap in how to interpret the phrase even among the Japanese.

• This may be because the phrase have several meanings, such as "hang in there," "do your best," "good luck," and "you can do it."
• This may be because the phrase has several meanings, such as "hang in there," "do your best," "good luck," and "you can do it."

I didn't know that! I feel like it's an encouraging phrase too.

• Few days ago, it was a hot topic that Japanese television stations put up the phrase "頑張れ (go for it)" as a candidate of banned words.
• Few days ago, it was a hot topic that Japanese television stations put up the phrase "頑張れ (go for it)" as a candidate for banned words.

• Apparently, someone seems to have made a complaint such as that the phrase gives us the pressure.
• Apparently, someone seems to have [made a complaint / complained] such as that the phrase [gives us the pressure / puts pressure on us].

• However, I can't understand the reason well.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• "頑張れ" is a generic phrase that is used when you cheer someone, and I have used it well.
• "頑張れ" is a generic phrase that is used when you cheer someone on, and I have used it often.

  * "cheer for someone" / "cheer someone on"

• I heard a complaint like "I feel annoyed when someone said '頑張れ' to me, because I'm already working hard," but if I'm in the situation, I will be so impressed when I heard someone say that.
• I heard a complaint like "I feel annoyed when someone says '頑張れ' to me, because I'm already working hard," but if I were in that situation, I would be so moved if I heard someone say that.

• There seem to be a gap in how to feel for the phrase even among Japanese.
• There seems to be a gap in how to feel about the phrase even among Japanese.

• This may be because the phrase have several meanings, such as "hang in there," "do your best," "good luck," and "you can do it."
• This may be because the phrase has several meanings, such as "hang in there," "do your best," "good luck," and "you can do it."

• We need to pay attention.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

Wow! Interesting topic! As an English speaker, I like 頑張れ because there isn't a clear English equivalent and I can say all of those things (like "good luck," "you can do it," etc) all at once! :D

あー！これおもしろい！

日本人の友達は仕事を頑張りすぎるから、僕は彼女に「頑張れ！」と言いたくないです。でも、彼女はそういう時に「頑張れ！」と言われるのが好きです。

だから僕はいつも「お仕事頑張れ！まぁ、頑張らなくてもいいけど…」と言います(笑)

でもこの投稿を読んで、そう言われるのが嫌だと思う日本人もいるのを初めて知った。

僕は、「あまり無理しないで」と言いたくなります。

• Few days ago, it was a hot topic that Japanese television stations put up the phrase "頑張れ (go for it)" as a candidate of banned words.
• Few days ago, it was a hot topic that Japanese television stations had put up the phrase "頑張れ (go for it)" as a candidate of banned words.

• Apparently, someone seems to have made a complaint such as that the phrase gives us the pressure.
• Apparently, someone seems to have made a complaint such as that the phrase pressurizes us.

• However, I can't understand the reason well.
• However, I couldn't understand the reason why.

• "頑張れ" is a generic phrase that is used when you cheer someone, and I have used it well.
• "頑張れ" is a generic phrase used to cheer someone, and I have used it quite often.

• I heard a complaint like "I feel annoyed when someone said '頑張れ' to me, because I'm already working hard," but if I'm in the situation, I will be so impressed when I heard someone say that.
• I heard a complaint was something like "I feel annoyed when someone said '頑張れ' to me, because I'm already working hard," but if it was me, I would be so motivated when I heard someone say that.

• There seem to be a gap in how to feel for the phrase even among Japanese.
• There seem to be a gap as to how to phrase should be interpreted even among the Japanese.

• This may be because the phrase have several meanings, such as "hang in there," "do your best," "good luck," and "you can do it."
• This may be because the phrase has/implies several meanings, such as "hang in there," "do your best," "good luck," and "you can do it."

• We need to pay attention.
• We need to pay more attention.

Hi Kanotownさん！
I do like that word too. However, I could understand a little why the Japanese would feel that way. Maybe because sometimes when people say 頑張れ to them, they feel more obligated to do well, hence turning it into pressure instead of encouragement. I say that because sometimes when my friends say "all the best!", it is another way of saying good luck and I know it, but I feel even more pressurized to do well so as not to disappoint them.