明争暗斗 (míng zhēng àn dòu) — open conflict and covert maneuvering (between rivals); both overt and covert struggle

Definition

An idiom for rivals fighting on two fronts: 明争 (open rivalry) paired with 暗斗 (secret maneuvering). The two halves must stay together — do not split or substitute characters.

idiom
open conflict and covert maneuvering (between rivals)both overt and covert struggle

Examples

  • 明争暗斗，。
    Gōng sī nèi bù míng zhēng àn dòu, yǐng xiǎng le fā zhǎn.
    The open and covert struggles within the company affected its development.
  • ，明争暗斗。
    Tā men biǎo miàn shàng hé zuò, shí jì shang míng zhēng àn dòu.
    They cooperate on the surface but are actually engaged in open and hidden struggles.
  • 明争暗斗。
    Zhè chǎng míng zhēng àn dòu chí xù le hǎo jǐ nián.
    This round of open and covert struggles lasted several years.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

明争open contest
明míngopenly争zhēngcontest
偏正Modifier + head
暗斗hidden struggle
暗àncovertly斗dòustruggle
偏正Modifier + head

明争 (open contest) and 暗斗 (hidden struggle) together describe rivalry that is both visible and covert.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

明 combines 日 (sun) and 月 (moon), showing the sun just rising while the moon has not yet set, or two bright objects in the sky, to express brightness.

Open 明 →

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 →

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
日日rìsun
Sound part声符shēngfú
音
音yīn暗àn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

暗 pairs 日 (sun) with 音, which gives the sound.

Open 暗 →

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 →

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