| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| 足掻く | あがく | I〔馬などが前足で地面をかく〕paw (at) the ground II〔もがき苦しむ〕struggle |
| 彼は水面に浮かび上がろうと必死であがいた He struggled desperately to get to the surface. いくらあがいても無駄だった He struggled, but to no avail. 彼は悲惨な境涯から何とか抜け出ようとあがいた He struggled [strove] to escape from the miserable circumstances he was in. |