“〜ni chōsen suru・ni torikumu・ni tazusawaru”: Take On / Tackle / Be Involved In (N3–N2) [JLPT N3]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
“Atarashii koto ni chōsen suru” “Kenkyū ni tazusawaru” — actively committing to something
「記録に挑戦」→「課題に取り組む」→「教育に携わる」 — a timeline of engagement depth
「彼は世界記録に挑戦した」 (he took on the world record), 「難しい課題に取り組む」 (tackle a hard problem), 「長年、教育に携わってきた」 (has worked in education for years) — these three verbs all take the particle 「に」 for their object, expressing active engagement in something, but differ in depth and feel: 挑戦 = work up the courage to try; 取り組む = roll up your sleeves and tackle; 携わる = be engaged in long-term. This guide covers the three's differences, and separates them from 「関わる」.
Core: a one-off try → earnest tackling → long-term engagement
A timeline / depth of engagement makes it clearest:
- に挑戦する = work up the courage to give it a try (one-off, challenging): 世界記録に挑戦する (take on the world record).
- に取り組む = roll up your sleeves and earnestly tackle it (a process, effort): 環境問題に取り組む (tackle environmental issues).
- に携わる = be engaged in, work in long-term (a field/job, ongoing): 医療に携わる (work in healthcare).
Feel: 挑戦 (a try) → 取り組む (tackle earnestly) → 携わる (be engaged long-term), increasing time and depth of engagement.
How to Connect
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜に挑戦する | take on, try (work up courage) | 記録に挑戦する （take on the record） |
| 〜に取り組む | tackle, work earnestly on | 課題に取り組む |
| 〜に携わる | be engaged in, work in (long-term) | 教育に携わる （works in education） |
Example sentences
- 彼は世界記録に挑戦した。(He took on the world record.) — worked up the courage to try
- 新しい分野に挑戦してみたい。(I want to try taking on a new field.) — a try
- チーム全員で、この課題に取り組んでいる。(The whole team is tackling this problem together.) — earnest engagement
- 彼は長年、教育に携わってきた。(He has worked in education for many years.) — long-term work
- 前職では新規事業の立ち上げに携わっておりました。(In my previous job I was involved in launching a new business.) — résumé/formal
⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid
① The particle is 「に」, not 「を」. ✗ 記録を挑戦する／課題を取り組む → ✓ 記録に挑戦する, 課題に取り組む, 教育に携わる. All three take 「に」 (the object marked with に), not 「を」. The Chinese sense of “challenge the record, engage the problem” as transitive tempts を — remember to use に.
② The three differ in depth — don't swap them. 挑戦 = work up the courage to ‘give it a try' (challenging, one-off) (新記録に挑戦 = take on a new record); 取り組む = ‘earnestly engage, set about handling' (a process, effort, neutral) (問題に取り組む = set about a problem); 携わる = ‘be engaged in, work in long-term' (ongoing, mostly a job/profession, more formal) (研究に携わる = work in research). For “daring to try” use 挑戦, “earnestly doing” 取り組む, “long-term engagement” 携わる.
③ All three are more formal, written. These three verbs are more formal, written, or dignified spoken, common in self-introductions, résumés, reporting, interviews (〜に携わってまいりました = I have been engaged in …). For a casual everyday “do, work on,” use 「やる」; these three are for “formally stating engagement in something.”
🔄 Compare with similar forms: 挑戦／取り組む／携わる／関わる
| Form | Feel | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜に挑戦する | take on, dare to try (a one-off challenge) | 記録に挑戦 |
| 〜に取り組む | commit to, earnestly tackle (a process, effort) | 課題に取り組む |
| 〜に携わる | be engaged in, work in long-term (a job/field) | 医療に携わる （works in healthcare） |
| 〜に関わる | be related to, involved in (broadest, not necessarily active) | 事件に関わる （is involved in the case） |
💡 The one thing to remember
「に挑戦する・に取り組む・に携わる」 all take the particle 「に」 for their object, meaning “active engagement in something,” but differ in depth and time — a timeline makes it clearest: ① 挑戦 = work up the courage to ‘give it a try' (one-off, challenging: 世界記録に挑戦); ② 取り組む = roll up your sleeves and ‘earnestly tackle' (a process, effort: 課題に取り組む); ③ 携わる = ‘be engaged in, work in long-term' (ongoing, mostly a job/field, more formal: 教育に携わる). Three points: ① all use に (✗ を); ② increasing depth (a try → tackle earnestly → work long-term); ③ more formal/written (common in résumés, self-introductions, especially 携わる). To say “I've been engaged in / worked in …” in a résumé or intro, 携わる is most professional; for “daring to try something new” use 挑戦; for “earnestly tackling a problem” use 取り組む.
❓ Questions you might have
Q: How do I tell 「挑戦する」, 「取り組む」, and 「携わる」 apart? (all ‘engage in something')
By “depth and duration of engagement,” like a shallow-to-deep axis: ① 「に挑戦する」 = work up the courage to try, take on (stressing ‘daring to try,' a one-off action, challenging, may fail): 世界記録に挑戦する (take on the world record), 初めてマラソンに挑戦した (took on a marathon for the first time), 新しい料理に挑戦する (try cooking something new). It's “work up the courage to give it a try.” ② 「に取り組む」 = earnestly engage, set about handling (stressing the ‘roll-up-sleeves effort' process, neutral, earnest): チームで課題に取り組む (the team tackles the problem together), 環境問題に取り組む (tackle environmental issues), 真剣に勉強に取り組む (earnestly apply oneself to studying). It's “earnestly engaging in, handling something.” ③ 「に携わる」 = be involved in, work in (stressing ‘long-term engagement in a job/field,' ongoing, professional, more formal): 長年、教育に携わる (work in education for years), 医療に携わっています (I work in healthcare), 新規事業に携わった (was involved in a new business). It's “(as a job/long-term) being engaged in.” So: “dare to try (one-off challenge)” → 挑戦; “earnestly tackle (a process)” → 取り組む; “work in long-term (a job/field)” → 携わる. Depth and time: 挑戦 (a try) < 取り組む (tackle earnestly) < 携わる (work long-term).
Q: How do I tell 「携わる」 from 「関わる」? (both can be ‘be involved in')
By “degree of active engagement” and “scope.” 「に携わる」 = (actively, long-term) be engaged in, work in a job/field (stressing ‘throwing oneself in, as a profession or long-term,' more formal, positive): 彼は長年、福祉に携わってきた (he's worked in welfare for years — throwing himself in, as a career), この研究に携わるメンバー (members engaged in this research — actually working on it), 教育現場に携わる (work on the front lines of education). It's “actually engaging, working in (mostly a job, profession),” with a sense of active engagement. 「に関わる」 = be related to, involved in, concern (broadest, active or passive, not necessarily ‘throwing oneself in'): この事件に関わる (be involved in this incident — could be mere connection, not necessarily active), 命に関わる問題 (a life-or-death issue — concerning, relating to), 彼はその計画に関わっている (he's connected to that plan). It's “being connected, involved,” broader than 携わる, not necessarily active professional engagement. So: “(actively, long-term) engaged in a job/field” → 携わる (formal, throwing oneself in); “related to, involved in (broad, not necessarily active)” → 関わる. 「医療に携わる」 = work in healthcare (as a career); 「事件に関わる」 = be involved in the incident (possibly mere connection). 携わる is “throwing oneself in,” 関わる is “being connected.”
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. 「彼は長年、教育___きた。」(has been engaged in education for years)
(A) に携わって (B) を挑戦して (C) に取り込んで (D) について
Q2. 「難しい課題___。」(devote effort to a hard task)
(A) に取り組む (B) に挑戦される (C) を携わる (D) に携う
Q3. What does 「記録に挑戦する」 mean?
(A) Take on (attempt) the record
(B) Give up the record
(C) Destroy the record
(D) Forget the record
Q4. What is the nuance of 「に携わる」?
(A) Long-term engagement / involvement (work, enterprise)
(B) A one-time attempt
(C) Avoidance
(D) Refusal
Q5. Which particle usage is correct?
(A) プロジェクトに取り組む。 (B) プロジェクトを取り組む。
(C) プロジェクトが携わる。 (D) プロジェクトへ挑戦に。
Answer Key
1. (A) に携わって ── long-term in education.
2. (A) に取り組む ── devote effort to a hard task.
3. (A) ── take on / attempt the record.
4. (A) ── long-term engagement / involvement.
5. (A) ── the object takes に (に取り組む).