掙 (zhēng) - To struggle & to strive

掙Tone 1

zhēng ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

丈志

掙 · zhēng

To struggle;

to strive;

to earn (money);

to wrestle with;

to exert oneself against resistance.

To struggleto striveto earn (money)

Usage highlights

StruggleEarn moneyBreak freeStrive for a livingHardStruggle desperately

Synonyms

  • 爭— To contend; to strive
  • 奮鬥— To struggle; to fight
  • 努力— To exert effort

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He struggled to get free (掙扎).
  • She earns a living by working hard (掙錢).
  • They fought to escape from the difficult situation (掙脫困境).
  • The company is struggling to survive (掙扎求存).

Collocations

  • Struggle(掙扎)
  • Earn money(掙錢)
  • Break free(掙脫)
  • Strive for a living(掙生活)
  • Hard-earned money(掙來的錢)
  • Struggle desperately(拼命掙扎)

Idioms

  • Struggle with death throes(垂死掙扎)
  • Break free from shackles(掙脫枷鎖)
  • Struggle against fate(掙扎抗命)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Reflects the value placed on hard work and perseverance in Chinese culture.
  • Often used in contexts describing overcoming adversity through personal effort.
  • The character embodies the concept of earning through one's own labor rather than receiving inheritance.

FAQ