to toil
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to toil
To work very hard and physically strenuously, often under difficult conditions. The word has a colloquial connotation.
Er musste den ganzen Sommer auf der Baustelle schuften, um sein Studium zu finanzieren.
He had to toil on the construction site all summer to finance his studies.
'Schuften' (to toil) is a colloquial word. It emphasizes that the work is very hard, laborious, and often unpleasant.
Ich habe keine Lust, mein ganzes Leben lang für einen Hungerlohn zu schuften.
I don't feel like toiling my whole life for starvation wages.
The preposition 'für' (for) with the accusative is often used to express what someone is working so hard for.
Sie schuftet jeden Tag für die Zukunft ihrer Kinder.
She toils every day for her children's future.
Common comparisons intensify the meaning, for example 'schuften wie ein Pferd' (to work like a horse) or 'schuften wie ein Tier' (to work like an animal). Time expressions such as 'von morgens bis abends schuften' (to toil from morning till night) are also typical.
Um das Projekt rechtzeitig fertig zu bekommen, mussten wir schuften wie die Pferde.
To get the project finished on time, we had to work like horses.
to work
Arbeiten is the neutral term for carrying out a physical or mental activity. Schuften is colloquial and emphasizes that the work is exceptionally hard, physically strenuous, or done under difficult conditions. Without this strong emphasis, arbeiten is the better choice.
Tom schuftet heute zwölf Stunden ohne lange Pause im Lager.
Tom is toiling at the warehouse for twelve hours today without a long break.
Tom arbeitet heute acht Stunden im Lager.
Tom is working at the warehouse for eight hours today.
