奮闘

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 奮闘, read ふんとう, denotes strenuous effort or struggle in a difficult situation.
• Basic usage: 厨房で奮闘している shows effort in progress; 両立に奮闘した reports hard work toward balancing two roles.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Ongoing struggle and goal marked by に
  • している presents continuing effort, while した reports past effort; に identifies the goal pursued.