to fight against
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to fight against
To make an effort to resist something, especially an inner feeling such as tiredness or fear, an illness, or an adverse circumstance.
Während des langen Vortrags musste er gegen die Müdigkeit ankämpfen.
During the long lecture, he had to fight against tiredness.
'Ankämpfen' is a separable verb. The prefix 'an-' comes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu' (to), the verb stays together.
Er kämpft tapfer gegen seine Krankheit an.
He is bravely fighting against his illness.
This verb is almost always used with the preposition 'gegen' (against) and the accusative. The construction 'ankämpfen gegen etwas' (to fight against something) means to resist an inner or outer force.
Sie musste gegen den starken Wind ankämpfen, um vorwärtszukommen.
She had to fight against the strong wind in order to move forward.
You typically fight against feelings, states, or illnesses. Common combinations are: 'gegen die Müdigkeit ankämpfen' (to fight against tiredness), 'gegen die Tränen ankämpfen' (to fight back tears), or 'gegen eine Erkältung ankämpfen' (to fight off a cold).
Obwohl sie traurig war, kämpfte sie gegen die Tränen an.
Although she was sad, she fought back tears.
to fight
Kämpfen and ankämpfen can both express resistance to something negative. However, ankämpfen emphasizes more strongly that this resistance is strenuous and often sustained over a longer period, while kämpfen remains more general. Use kämpfen for general resistance and ankämpfen when the difficult effort to resist is the focus.
Er kämpft gegen seine Müdigkeit an, um den Bericht fertigzustellen.
He fights off his tiredness in order to finish the report.
Er kämpft gegen seine Müdigkeit und arbeitet den Bericht fertig.
He fights his tiredness and finishes the report.
