Japanese word

もがく

Pronunciation

Romajimogaku

Meaning

  • verbwriggle

Example

魚が網の中でもがきます。sakana ga ami no naka de mo ga ki ma su

The fish wriggles in the net.

Illustration for もがく (wriggle)

More examples

逃げようとして、彼は水の中でもがきました。ni ge yō to shi te kare wa mizu no naka de mo ga ki ma shi ta

He struggled in the water as he tried to escape.

Core concept

Expresses forceful, repeated movement made while trying to break free from restraint or push through difficulty.

Common phrases

  • 必死にもがくhis shi ni mo ga ku

    wriggle desperately

  • 水の中でもがくmizu no naka de mo ga ku

    wriggle in the water

  • 逃げようともがくni ge yō to mo ga ku

    struggle to escape

Similar words

あがくagaku: To struggle desperately to get free or find a way through a difficult situation.
じたばたするjitabatasuru: To flail about with repeated movements, usually without making useful progress.

Definition in Japanese

自由を奪われた状態や困難な状況から抜け出そうとして、体を激しく動かす。ji yū o uba wa re ta jō tai ya kon nan na jō kyō ka ra nu ke da sō to shi te karada o hage shi ku ugo ka su

Word origin

もがく (mogaku, "to struggle") is a native Japanese verb of uncertain exact origin; its established sense joins forceful bodily movement with an attempt to escape restraint or hardship.

Usage tips

  • Unlike a neutral movement verb, もがく (mogaku) often implies that the movement is driven by a strong attempt to get free or make progress.

Other meanings

  • struggleverb
  • squirmverb
  • writheverb

Related words

  • もがきmogakistrugglenoun

Word lists with this word