challenge

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 挑 has 9 strokes, the on-reading ちょう, and the kun-reading いどむ. 挑む (いどむ) and 挑戦 (ちょうせん) express taking on a challenge.
• Basic usage: 挑む is a verb for taking on a competition or difficult conditions; 挑戦 names a challenge or new attempt.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The target of a challenge and doing it for the first time
  • 初めて全国大会に挑む means taking on a national tournament for the first time. 厳しい自然に挑みながら describes heading toward the summit while confronting harsh natural conditions.
  • 初めて長距離の水泳大会に挑戦します means entering a long-distance swimming event for the first time. 新しい技法への挑戦 identifies trying a new technique as what changed the work.