苦闘(くとう)

くとう
noun, verb-suru
hard struggle; bitter fight
1. hard struggle; bitter fight; uphill battle
A difficult and painful struggle against adversity, whether physical, emotional, or situational. Emphasizes the suffering and effort involved in fighting through hardship.
病気(びょうき)との苦闘(くとう)が続(つづ)いた。
The hard battle against illness continued.
チームは苦闘(くとう)の末(すえ)、勝利(しょうり)をつかんだ。
The team seized victory after a bitter struggle.
創業(そうぎょう)から十年(じゅうねん)、資金不足(しきんぶそく)と苦闘(くとう)しながらも会社(かいしゃ)を成長(せいちょう)させた。
In the ten years since founding the company, he grew it while struggling with a lack of funding.

USAGE: 苦闘(くとう) conveys a more intense and painful struggle than 奮闘(ふんとう). It is common in literary, journalistic, and biographical writing.

PARTICLE PATTERNS:

  • [difficulty]との苦闘(くとう): struggle against ~
  • [difficulty]と苦闘(くとう)する: to struggle with ~

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 苦闘(くとう)の末(すえ): after a hard struggle
  • 苦闘(くとう)を強(し)いられる: to be forced into a hard fight
  • 苦闘(くとう)が続(つづ)く: the struggle continues

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 苦闘(くとう): bitter struggle (emphasizes suffering)
  • 奮闘(ふんとう): spirited fight (emphasizes effort and determination)
  • 格闘(かくとう): grappling, wrestling (physical combat or figurative wrestling with a problem)
general
Added 2026.3.6 20:49
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