JLPT N1 Advanced
藻掻く
「もがく」
To struggle or writhe desperately to escape a physical constraint or difficult situation
Readings
Other forms
もがきます polite form
もがいて te-form
もがいた past form
踠く rare kanji
1 Verb (Intransitive)
To struggle / To wriggle
Describes the act of violently twisting or writhing the body to escape physical restraint or pain.
Example
犯人 は 警察 に 捕まり 、 必死 に もがいた 。
The criminal was caught by the police and struggled desperately.
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2 Verb (Intransitive)
To struggle / To flounder
Expresses the desperate, often fruitless exertion used to try to overcome a crisis or difficult circumstances.
Usage notes & examples
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