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苦闘 (くとう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
hard fight ; difficult struggle
Describes a strenuous, often prolonged struggle against adversity, difficulty, or a formidable opponent. Used both literally (e.g., in sports, combat) and figuratively (e.g., with illness, hardship).
とう
を
続つづ
け
た
。
The team continued their hard fight for the championship.
Written forms 苦く 闘とう Usage 100%
Standard kanji spelling; commonly used in news and literary contexts.
クトウ Usage <1%
Similar words 奮ふん 闘とう 奮闘 emphasizes strenuous effort and fighting spirit, often in a positive, determined sense. 苦闘 focuses more on the hardship and suffering involved in the struggle.
悪あく 戦せん 苦く 闘とう 悪戦苦闘 is a four-character compound meaning 'desperate struggle' or 'uphill battle,' often used when facing overwhelming odds. 苦闘 alone is less intense and more general.
Etymology Compound of 苦 (ku, 'suffering, hardship') and 闘 (tō, 'fight, struggle'). The word directly conveys a fight marked by pain or difficulty.