挣

zhèng

HSK 5

挣 — zhèng

1. to struggle (to get free)

   孩子不停地挣脱父母的怀抱，想跑开。 háizi bùtíng dì zhèngtuō fùmǔ de huáibào xiǎng pǎo kāi — The child kept struggling out of the parents' arms and wanted to run away.

2. to strive to acquire; to try hard to obtain

   公司正努力挣取更多的市场份额。 gōngsī zhèng nǔlì zhēng qǔ gèngduō de shìchǎngfèné — The company is striving to gain a larger market share.

3. to make (money)

   他在外面兼职挣了不少钱。 tā zài wàimiàn jiānzhí zhēng le bùshǎo qián — He earned quite a bit of money doing a part-time job.

挣 — zhēng

1. used only in the compound 掙扎/挣扎 (to struggle)

   他在挣扎中大叫，但无法脱身。 tā zài zhēngzhá zhōng dàjiào dàn wúfǎ tuōshēn — He cried out in struggle but couldn't get free.