Translation guide
Ways to express that someone is having difficulty, fighting against something, or making a strenuous effort. Japanese often uses verbs like 苦労する, 苦しむ, or もがく depending on the nuance.
To say that someone is struggling with a problem, life, work, etc.
A general, natural way to say someone is having a hard time or going through hardships. Often used for ongoing difficulties in life or work.
He is struggling at work.
I'm struggling with raising children.
Implies suffering or being tormented by something. Stronger than 苦労する. Often used for emotional or physical pain.
A very common casual way to say things are tough or hard. Can be used to describe a situation or how one feels.
I'm struggling because I have no money this month.
A set phrase meaning to be struggling desperately or having a very hard time. Literally 'four sufferings, eight hardships'. Somewhat emphatic.
To describe someone moving their body violently to get free, or thrashing around.
To struggle physically, flail, or thrash about. Can also be used metaphorically for trying hard to escape a difficult situation.
To express that someone is finding it hard to do a specific thing.
Pattern meaning 'to have a hard time doing ~'. Attach to dictionary form of verb.
To say someone is having money problems.
Literally 'life is painful', a common way to say one is struggling to make ends meet.
To express resistance or fighting against an opponent, idea, or force.
To resist or struggle against. Can be physical or metaphorical.
苦労する focuses on the effort and hardship involved in dealing with difficulties, while 苦しむ emphasizes the pain and suffering. 苦労する is more about 'having a hard time', 苦しむ is 'being tormented by'.
He is struggling at work, but he isn't suffering.
He is struggling with his homework.
彼は孤独に苦しんでいる。
He is struggling with loneliness.
He is struggling desperately to pay off his debts.
He struggled desperately in the water.
We are struggling to get out of the recession.
Similar to もがく, but often implies a more desperate, futile struggle. Can be used for physical or metaphorical situations.
He struggled to escape.
To struggle or kick about noisily. Often used for children or in a slightly childish context. Can also mean to panic or make a fuss.
The child was struggling on the floor.
He is struggling to speak English.
I struggled to use the new software.
Pattern meaning 'to suffer from ~' or 'to struggle with ~'. Often used with nouns like 病気 (illness) or 借金 (debt).
He is struggling with a serious illness.
Casual pattern meaning 'it's tough to do ~'. Very common in spoken Japanese.
I struggle to cook every day.
To have trouble handling something; to be stuck on a problem. Often used for tasks or problems that are more troublesome than expected.
I'm struggling with this problem.
I'm struggling financially this month.
Slang for 'I'm broke' or 'short on cash'. Very casual.
I'm struggling because it's just before payday.
Specifically refers to household finances being tight.
With prices rising, our household is struggling.
He struggled against arrest.
Some people struggle against change.
To fight or struggle against something, often with a sense of a prolonged battle. Used for diseases, injustice, etc.
He is struggling against cancer.
To resist or struggle against an overwhelming force or fate. Somewhat literary.
To struggle against fate.
苦しむ is a strong word implying real suffering. For everyday difficulties, 苦労する or 大変だ are safer choices.
The company is struggling to survive.