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.
彼は仕事で苦労している。
He is struggling at work.
子育てに苦労している。
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.
今月はお金がなくて大変だ。
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.
彼は借金の返済に四苦八苦している。
He is struggling desperately to pay off his debts.
To describe someone moving their body violently to get free, or thrashing around.
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.
彼は英語を話すのに苦労している。
He is struggling to speak English.
To say someone is having money problems.
Literally 'life is painful', a common way to say one is struggling to make ends meet.
今月は生活が苦しい。
I'm struggling financially this month.
To express resistance or fighting against an opponent, idea, or force.
To resist or struggle against. Can be physical or metaphorical.
彼は逮捕に抵抗した。
He struggled against arrest.
変化に抵抗する人もいる。
Some people struggle against change.
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'.
彼は仕事で苦労しているが、苦しんではいない。
He is struggling at work, but he isn't suffering.
苦しむ is a strong word implying real suffering. For everyday difficulties, 苦労する or 大変だ are safer choices.
彼は宿題に苦労している。
He is struggling with his homework.
その会社は生き残るのに必死だ。
The company is struggling to survive.
彼は孤独に苦しんでいる。
He is struggling with loneliness.
To struggle physically, flail, or thrash about. Can also be used metaphorically for trying hard to escape a difficult situation.
彼は水の中で必死にもがいた。
He struggled desperately in the water.
不況から抜け出そうともがいている。
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.
彼は逃げようとあがいた。
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.
子供が床でじたばたしていた。
The child was struggling on the floor.
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).
彼は重い病気に苦しんでいる。
He is struggling with a serious illness.
Casual pattern meaning 'it's tough to do ~'. Very common in spoken Japanese.
毎日料理するのが大変だ。
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.
この問題に手こずっている。
I'm struggling with this problem.
Slang for 'I'm broke' or 'short on cash'. Very casual.
給料日前で金欠だ。
I'm struggling because it's just before payday.
Specifically refers to household finances being tight.
物価が上がって家計が苦しい。
With prices rising, our household is struggling.
To fight or struggle against something, often with a sense of a prolonged battle. Used for diseases, injustice, etc.
彼は癌と闘っている。
He is struggling against cancer.