奋斗 fèndòu to strive
to strive; to struggle
How to remember 奋斗: 奋 strive + 斗 fight = to strive.
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How it is used
- To strive hard toward a goal, with a positive, aspirational tone: 为理想奋斗 (wèi lǐxiǎng fèndòu) struggle for one's dreams.
- Contrast 斗争 (dòuzhēng), which is struggling against an opponent or hardship; 奋斗 is your own effortful striving.
- Common: 艰苦奋斗, 奋斗目标; a staple of motivational and workplace language.