Chinese–EnglishWith examples

挣扎

zhēng zhá · zheng zha

Traditional 掙扎

HSK 7–9Old HSK 6

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to struggle
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In a conversation

0:19 cartoon

Getting out of bed

  1. Dengdeng

    今天(jīntiān)早上(zǎoshang)我(wǒ)在(zài)床上(chuángshàng)挣扎(zhēngzhá)了(le)十分钟(shífēnzhōng)才(cái)起来(qǐlai)。

    This morning I struggled in bed for ten minutes before getting up.

  2. Liangliang

    十分钟(shífēnzhōng)？我(wǒ)挣扎(zhēngzhá)了(le)半个小时(bàngexiǎoshí)。

    Ten minutes? I struggled for half an hour.

  3. Dengdeng

    那(nà)你(nǐ)为什么(wèishénme)还(hái)起来(qǐlai)了(le)？

    Then why did you get up anyway?

  4. Liangliang

    因为(yīnwèi)我(wǒ)要(yào)去(qù)上班(shàngbān)啊(a)。

    Because I need to go to work.

  5. Dengdeng

    今天(jīntiān)是(shì)周六(zhōuliù)，你(nǐ)不用(bùyòng)上班(shàngbān)！

    Today is Saturday. You don't have to work!

  6. Liangliang

    啊(a)？那(nà)我(wǒ)挣扎(zhēngzhá)什么(shénme)呀(ya)！

    Huh? Then what was I struggling for!

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

那(nà)只(zhī)受(shòu)伤(shāng)的(de)小(xiǎo)鸟(niǎo)在(zài)草(cǎo)地(dì)上(shàng)尽(jìn)力(lì)挣(zhēng)扎(zhá)。

The injured bird struggled with all its might on the grass.

Tatoeba: Chinese by enclectm · English by enclectm · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

我(wǒ)挣(zhēng)扎(zhá)着(zhe)挤(jǐ)出(chū)地(dì)铁(tiě)。

I struggled to get out of the subway.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fucongcong · English by fucongcong · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

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How to write

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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