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争斗 (zhēng dòu) — to fight (physically or verbally); to struggle; to contend (for power, resources, etc.)

Definition

争斗 (zhēngdòu) is a formal/literary verb meaning 'to fight' or 'to struggle/contend,' often over power, territory, or resources — more written and intense than the everyday 打架, which is physical brawling between people.

verb
to fight (physically or verbally)to struggleto contend (for power, resources, etc.)

Examples

  • 争斗。
    Zhè liǎng zhī gǒu wèi le shí wù zài zhēng dòu.
    These two dogs are fighting over food.
  • 争斗。
    Tā men yīn wèi yì jiàn bù hé ér zhēng dòu qǐ lái.
    They started to quarrel because of differing opinions.
  • 争斗。
    Lì shǐ shàng gè pài shì lì wèi quán lì bú duàn zhēng dòu.
    Throughout history, various factions have constantly struggled for power.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

争zhēngfight
斗dòufight

争 and 斗 both mean to fight or strive, so together they emphasize struggle.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 爭; 争 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 爭 shows two hands on a plowshare; the simplified 争 is a later abbreviation, so this picture belongs to 爭, not 争.

Open 争 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 斗 originally showed a ladle-shaped dipper or cup used to measure grain, held in a hand.

Open 斗 →
Appears in
Conflict & Agreement

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