zang1 zaat3掙扎挣扎
Jyutpingzang1 zaat3
Yalejāng jaat
Definition
To struggle, make a great effort, or put up resistance.
- to struggle or resist against oppression or physical constraint
- to agonize over or struggle with a difficult decision
colloquialdaily actionsemotion
How it's used
Beyond the literal physical sense of fighting against restraint, this word is frequently used metaphorically to describe internal conflict or indecision. When someone is torn between two difficult choices, they are often described as 掙扎緊. It carries a sense of emotional pain or intense mental effort rather than just physical movement.
Examples
He is struggling continuously in the water.
Why are you struggling? It is completely useless.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it might imply general effort or hard work. In Cantonese, it almost always retains a nuance of resistance, conflict, or being trapped in a difficult situation.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
