战书 (zhàn shū) — written declaration of war; letter of challenge

Definition

战书 is a formal written document, either a declaration of war between nations or a challenge letter to a duel/contest. It refers to the physical letter itself, not the act of declaring war.

noun
written declaration of warletter of challenge
Measure word · 封

Examples

  • ，战书。
    Gǔ dài liǎng guó jiāo zhàn qián, cháng huì xiān xià zhàn shū.
    In ancient times, before two countries went to war, they would often first send a written declaration of war.
  • 战书，。
    Dí fāng sòng lái zhàn shū, yāo qiú wǒ men sān tiān nèi tóu xiáng.
    The enemy sent a declaration of war, demanding we surrender within three days.
  • 战书，。
    Liǎng zhī qiú duì zài sài qián hù xiāng xià le zhàn shū, qì fen fēi cháng jǐn zhāng.
    The two teams exchanged letters of challenge before the match, and the atmosphere was very tense.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

战zhànwar
书shūletter

“战” war and “书” letter combine to mean a written challenge or declaration of war.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
戈戈gē
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn战zhàn
Same sound today

战 pairs 占, which gives its sound, with 戈, a weapon.

Open 战 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 書; 书 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
聿聿yùwriting brush
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě書shū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 書 uses 聿, a writing brush, and 者 for its sound; the simplified 书 is a later shorthand.

Open 书 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.