斗 (dòu) — to fight (physically, verbally, or psychologically); to struggle (against difficulties, adversity); to compete (in wits, games, or contests)
Definition
斗 (dòu) is a literary 'fight/struggle/compete' used mainly in writing, idioms, and set phrases (奋斗, 斗争, 战斗). For everyday physical fights, say 打架; 搏斗 is a more intense physical or life-and-death struggle.
verb
to fight (physically, verbally, or psychologically)to struggle (against difficulties, adversity)to compete (in wits, games, or contests)
Easily confused
Examples
- 斗。Liǎng guó dài biǎo zài huì yì shì dòu le yì zhěng tiān.The representatives of the two countries argued all day long in the meeting room.
- 斗。Tā men jué xīn hé pín kùn dòu dào dǐ.They are determined to struggle against poverty to the very end.
- 斗，斗。Zhè cì bǐ sài wǒ men bù jǐn yào dòu jì shù, hái yào dòu xīn lǐ.In this competition, we not only compete in skill but also in psychology.
Origin
Pictograph六书liùshū
象形xiàngxíngA 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.
Appears in
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