奋斗

fèn dòu

to strive; to struggle

HSK 5

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"奋斗" (fèndòu) means to strive or struggle, often implying persistent effort toward a goal despite difficulties. It is commonly used to describe personal or collective efforts in work, study, or life challenges.

Common Contexts

People use "奋斗" when talking about pursuing dreams, working hard for success, or overcoming obstacles. It often appears in motivational contexts or discussions about ambition.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 奋斗目标 (fèndòu mùbiāo): striving goal, the objective one works hard to achieve.
  • ...奋斗 (wèi... fèndòu): to struggle for something, e.g., 理想奋斗 (strive for ideals).
  • 奋斗 (fèndòu duōnián): struggle for many years, emphasizing long-term effort.

Nuances

"奋斗" carries a positive connotation of determined effort and perseverance. It differs from simple "努力" (nǔlì) by emphasizing the struggle aspect, often against difficulties or competition.

Common Confusion

Avoid confusing "奋斗" with "斗争" (dòuzhēng), which often implies conflict or fighting in a more confrontational sense. "奋斗" is more about personal or collective effort rather than direct conflict.

Example Sentences

他为了实现梦想不断奋斗。

Tā wèile shíxiàn mèngxiǎng bùduàn fèndòu.

He keeps striving to realize his dreams.

年轻人应该为自己的未来奋斗。

Niánqīngrén yīnggāi wèi zìjǐ de wèilái fèndòu.

Young people should struggle for their own future.

经过多年的奋斗,他终于成功了。

Jīngguò duōnián de fèndòu, tā zhōngyú chénggōng le.

After years of struggle, he finally succeeded.