奮闘(ふんとう)

ふんとう
noun/suru-verb
hard struggle; strenuous effort
1. hard struggle; strenuous effort; fighting hard
putting forth great effort and energy in a difficult situation
選手(せんしゅ)たちは最後(さいご)まで奮闘(ふんとう)した。
The players fought hard until the end.
新人(しんじん)の奮闘(ふんとう)ぶりが目立(めだ)った。
The newcomer's hard effort stood out.
彼女(かのじょ)は育児(いくじ)と仕事(しごと)の両立(りょうりつ)に奮闘(ふんとう)している。
She is struggling hard to balance childcare and work.

奮闘(ふんとう) describes putting forth great effort in a challenging situation.

COMPOSITION:

  • 奮(ふん): To rouse oneself, be vigorous
  • 闘(とう): To fight, struggle

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 奮闘(ふんとう)する (to struggle hard)
  • 奮闘(ふんとう)ぶり (the way one struggles)
  • 孤軍奮闘(こぐんふんとう) (fighting alone against many)
  • 悪戦苦闘(あくせんくとう) (desperate struggle - similar idiom)

USAGE CONTEXTS:

  • Sports: Players fighting hard in a game
  • Work: Employees putting in great effort
  • Personal: Struggling with life challenges
  • News: Describing someone's determined efforts

NUANCE:

  • Implies admirable effort despite difficulties
  • Often used positively to praise someone's hard work
  • Can be used even when the outcome is not successful

RELATED TERMS:

  • 善戦(ぜんせん) (good fight - focus on performance)
  • 健闘(けんとう) (good fight - similar meaning)
  • 努力(どりょく) (effort - more general)
  • 頑張(がんば)る (to do one's best - more casual)

REGISTER: Neutral. Common in sports commentary and news.

general
Added 2026.1.22 14:13
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