n. The act of exerting, or putting into motion or action; the active exercise of any power or faculty; an effort, esp. a laborious or perceptible effort; as, an exertion of strength or power; an exertion of the limbs or of the mind; it is an exertion for him to move, to-day.
[いちばくじっかん, ichibakujikkan] (exp) (1) bursts of exertion will fail to bear fruit if interrupted by long periods of idleness; (2) strenuous efforts, unless sustained, are to no avail (Mencius)