effort / endeavor
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effort / endeavor
A serious effort or a goal that someone pursues. The plural is often used to describe various efforts.
Es gibt Bestrebungen, den öffentlichen Nahverkehr in der Stadt zu verbessern.
There are efforts to improve public transportation in the city.
The noun 'die Bestrebung' (effort/endeavor) is derived directly from the verb 'streben' (to strive), which means 'to make an intensive effort toward something'. A Bestrebung is therefore the result or act of striving toward a goal.
Er strebt nach Anerkennung für seine Arbeit.
He strives for recognition for his work.
The word 'Bestrebung' (effort/endeavor) is used mainly in formal contexts such as politics, science, or official reports. In everyday language, you would more likely speak of 'Zielen' (goals) or 'Bemühungen' (efforts).
Die politischen Bestrebungen zielen auf eine Reform des Bildungssystems.
The political efforts are aimed at reforming the education system.
'Bestrebung' (effort/endeavor) is very often used with an infinitive construction with 'zu' to describe the exact goal. The pattern is: 'Bestrebungen, etwas zu tun' (efforts to do something).
Die Firma hat ihre Bestrebungen, die Produktion nachhaltiger zu gestalten, verstärkt.
The company has intensified its efforts to make production more sustainable.
Although the singular exists, the word is very often used in the plural, 'die Bestrebungen' (the efforts/endeavors). This emphasizes that it refers to multiple or extensive efforts.
Es gab schon immer Bestrebungen, die Lebensqualität in der Stadt zu erhöhen.
There have always been efforts to improve the quality of life in the city.
goal / destination / target
'das Ziel' and 'die Bestrebung' can both describe what someone wants to achieve. 'das Ziel' is the concrete result you are working toward. 'die Bestrebung' puts more emphasis on the serious effort along the way. The word sounds more formal and is often used in reports, politics, or official texts, frequently in the plural. Learners may confuse the words because both point toward the future. In everyday language, 'Ziel' is usually more natural; 'Bestrebung' fits better when you are talking about longer-term or official efforts.
Die Bestrebungen der Schule gehen dahin, mehr digitale Angebote zu schaffen.
The school's efforts are aimed at creating more digital offerings.
Das Ziel des Teams ist ein guter Abschluss des Projekts.
The team's goal is to bring the project to a successful conclusion.