Explanation at your level:
If you struggle, it means something is hard. You want to do it, but it is not easy. You work very hard. For example, you might struggle to open a heavy door.
You use struggle when you have a problem. Maybe you struggle with your homework because it is difficult. It means you are trying, but you need more time or energy to finish.
Struggle describes the effort needed to overcome obstacles. You can struggle with a task, or struggle against a situation. It is common to say 'I am struggling to understand this' when you need help.
At this level, struggle is used for more abstract concepts. You might struggle with a moral dilemma or struggle to maintain a work-life balance. It implies a persistent, ongoing effort.
In advanced English, struggle can imply a deeper existential or systemic conflict. It is used in political discourse, such as 'a struggle for independence,' or in literature to describe a character's internal battle against their own nature.
Mastery of struggle involves understanding its nuanced usage in idiomatic and figurative contexts. It can describe a 'protracted struggle' or a 'futile struggle,' emphasizing the duration and the outcome. It connects to themes of resilience and human endurance.
30초 단어
- Struggle means to make a great effort.
- It is often used with 'with' or 'to'.
- It can be physical or mental.
- It is a very common English verb.
When you struggle, you are putting in a lot of effort to overcome a challenge. Think of it as the physical or mental act of pushing against resistance.
You might struggle with a heavy box, or perhaps you struggle to understand a complex math problem. It is a powerful word that highlights the gap between the effort you are giving and the difficulty of the task at hand.
The word struggle is a bit of a mystery! It first appeared in the 14th century, but its exact roots are uncertain. It is likely related to Middle Low German words like strugeln, which meant to move unsteadily.
Historically, it evolved from describing physical movement—like stumbling or wrestling—into the broader sense of mental or emotional effort we use today. It reflects the human experience of pushing forward even when the path is rocky.
You will often hear people say they are struggling with a specific issue, like a subject in school or a personal problem. It is a very versatile verb used in both casual conversations and formal reports.
Common collocations include struggle for (e.g., freedom), struggle against (e.g., an illness), and struggle to (e.g., finish a task). It is neutral in register but carries a heavy emotional weight.
1. Struggle for breath: To have difficulty breathing. Example: 'He surfaced, struggling for breath.'
2. A hard struggle: A very difficult endeavor. Example: 'It was a hard struggle to win the game.'
3. Struggle along: To manage with difficulty. Example: 'We are just struggling along on this budget.'
4. Power struggle: A fight for control. Example: 'The company is in the middle of a power struggle.'
5. Struggle to make ends meet: To have barely enough money. Example: 'Many families struggle to make ends meet.'
As a verb, struggle is regular. Its past tense and past participle are struggled, and the present participle is struggling. It is an intransitive verb, meaning it usually needs a preposition like 'with' or 'against' to connect to an object.
Pronunciation: UK /ˈstrʌɡ.əl/, US /ˈstrʌɡ.əl/. It rhymes with 'smuggle' and 'juggle'. The stress is on the first syllable.
Fun Fact
It is one of those words that sounds like what it means!
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'u' sound, clear 'g', soft 'el' ending.
Similar to UK, often with a slight 'r' color.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'u' like 'oo'
- Missing the 'g' sound
- Adding extra syllables
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to use
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
고급
Grammar to Know
Verbs followed by Infinitives
I struggle to do it.
Prepositional Phrases
Struggle with it.
Intransitive Verbs
He struggled.
Examples by Level
I struggle with this bag.
I have difficulty with this bag.
Verb + with
He struggles to run.
He finds it hard to run.
Verb + to
They struggle to sleep.
They have trouble sleeping.
Verb + to
She struggles at work.
She has a hard time at work.
Verb + at
We struggle every day.
We have a hard time daily.
Intransitive
The dog struggles to sit.
The dog finds sitting hard.
Verb + to
I struggle with math.
Math is hard for me.
Verb + with
Do not struggle now.
Stop fighting.
Imperative
I struggle to finish my homework.
The bird struggles to fly in the wind.
She struggles with her new job.
Many people struggle to learn languages.
He struggles to walk without help.
We struggle to find the right words.
They struggle with the cold weather.
I struggle to wake up early.
The team struggled to reach the final.
He struggled against the strong current.
She is struggling to balance her life.
The economy is struggling to recover.
I struggle with the pronunciation of this word.
The plant struggles to grow in the shade.
They struggled to pay the rent.
He struggled to keep his eyes open.
The government is struggling to contain the crisis.
She struggled to suppress a smile.
He struggled with the moral implications of his choice.
The company struggled to maintain its market share.
They struggled to find common ground.
I struggled to articulate my feelings.
The athlete struggled to regain his form.
She struggled to reconcile her past with her future.
The nation struggled to emerge from the shadow of war.
He struggled to maintain his composure during the trial.
The protagonist struggles with his inner demons.
The industry is struggling to adapt to new technologies.
She struggled to reconcile the conflicting evidence.
The movement struggled to gain momentum.
He struggled to justify his controversial actions.
The artist struggled to convey the depth of his vision.
The organization struggles to remain relevant in a digital age.
He struggled to reconcile the paradoxes of his philosophy.
The society struggled to overcome deep-seated prejudices.
She struggled to maintain a sense of equilibrium.
The narrative struggles to resolve its complex themes.
He struggled to articulate the nuances of the debate.
The system struggles to accommodate the growing demand.
They struggled to navigate the labyrinthine bureaucracy.
자주 쓰는 조합
Idioms & Expressions
"struggle for breath"
gasping for air
He was struggling for breath after the race.
neutral"uphill struggle"
a very difficult task
Learning Chinese is an uphill struggle.
neutral"struggle to make ends meet"
having little money
They struggle to make ends meet.
neutral"a life-and-death struggle"
a critical fight
It became a life-and-death struggle.
dramatic"struggle along"
barely managing
We are just struggling along.
casual"the struggle is real"
acknowledging a genuine difficulty
Trying to diet? The struggle is real!
slangEasily Confused
Both imply effort.
Strive is more positive (goal-oriented).
I strive to win; I struggle to lift.
Both involve fighting.
Wrestle is more physical or focused.
I wrestle with the idea.
Both imply hard work.
Labor is more about long, tiring work.
He labored all day.
Both imply opposition.
Contend is more about competition.
He contends for the title.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + struggle + with + noun
I struggle with math.
Subject + struggle + to + verb
He struggles to run.
Subject + struggle + against + noun
They struggle against odds.
There + is + a + struggle + for + noun
There is a struggle for power.
Subject + struggle + to + make + ends + meet
They struggle to make ends meet.
어휘 가족
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
관련
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
자주 하는 실수
You struggle with a thing, not to a thing.
The verb pattern is struggle + to-infinitive.
Use the continuous form for current states.
Do not add 'to' after 'against'.
Always use the infinitive after struggle.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a giant rope you are pulling.
When Native Speakers Use It
When things are hard.
Cultural Insight
Used in social justice contexts.
Grammar Shortcut
Struggle + to + infinitive.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'stru' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't say 'struggle of'.
Did You Know?
It has Germanic roots.
Study Smart
Use it in your daily journal.
Collocation Tip
Always use 'struggle with' for problems.
Rhyme Time
Rhymes with juggle.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Struggle sounds like 'strug' (tug) + 'gle' (glee). Tugging with glee is a struggle!
Visual Association
A person pulling a heavy rope.
Word Web
챌린지
Write 3 sentences about your day using 'struggle'.
어원
Middle English/Germanic
Original meaning: To move unsteadily
문화적 맥락
None
Commonly used in sports and politics.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at school
- struggle with homework
- struggle to understand
- struggle with exams
at work
- struggle with deadlines
- struggle to complete
- struggle with management
in sports
- struggle to score
- struggle to keep up
- struggle for possession
daily life
- struggle to wake up
- struggle with finances
- struggle to find time
Conversation Starters
"What is something you currently struggle with?"
"Do you think struggle is necessary for success?"
"How do you handle a struggle at work?"
"What was the biggest struggle of your childhood?"
"Can you describe a time you struggled to learn something?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you overcame a struggle.
List three things you are currently struggling with.
How do you feel when you are struggling?
What helps you when you struggle?
자주 묻는 질문
8 질문Yes, it is regular (struggled).
Yes, 'a struggle'.
Usually 'with' or 'against'.
It is neutral.
Yes, like 'struggle for freedom'.
Often, yes.
STRUG-el.
Very common.
셀프 테스트
I ___ to understand the lesson.
Struggle fits the context of difficulty.
What does 'struggle' mean?
It means to put in effort for a difficult task.
You can 'struggle with' a problem.
This is a correct preposition usage.
Word
뜻
Matches words to concepts.
Subject + verb + prep + object.
The team is ___ to win the game.
Struggling fits the context of a difficult effort.
Which is a synonym for struggle?
Grapple is a synonym.
Struggle is only used for physical tasks.
It is also used for mental or abstract tasks.
Correct syntax for complex sentence.
The ___ for power was long.
Struggle is the correct noun here.
점수: /10
Summary
Struggle is the effort you give when the task is tough.
- Struggle means to make a great effort.
- It is often used with 'with' or 'to'.
- It can be physical or mental.
- It is a very common English verb.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a giant rope you are pulling.
When Native Speakers Use It
When things are hard.
Cultural Insight
Used in social justice contexts.
Grammar Shortcut
Struggle + to + infinitive.
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A1A little; somewhat; rather.
一点
A1A little; a bit; slightly.
可恶
A2Hateful; detestable; abominable.
心不在焉
A2Absent-minded; preoccupied.
接受地
A2Acceptingly; receptively.
成就感
B1Sense of achievement; fulfillment.
撒娇
A2To act like a spoiled child; to act cute.
上瘾
B1To be addicted to something.
沉迷
A2To be addicted to; to be engrossed in.
敬佩
B1Admiration; respect; reverence.
