龙争虎斗 (lóng zhēng hǔ dòu) — (idiom) a fierce struggle between two evenly-matched opponents; a real showdown

Definition

Idiom for a fierce, evenly matched showdown between two strong rivals, used figuratively (business, sports, politics). Literally 'dragon and tiger fighting' — the image of two top predators locked in combat implies comparable power, not a mismatch.

idiom
a fierce struggle between two evenly-matched opponentsa real showdown

Examples

  • 龙争虎斗，。
    Zhè chǎng bǐ sài zhēn shì lóng zhēng hǔ dòu, shuāng fāng shí lì dōu hěn qiáng.
    This match was a real dragon-and-tiger fight — both sides were very strong.
  • 龙争虎斗，。
    Liǎng jiā gōng sī lóng zhēng hǔ dòu, dōu xiǎng ná xià zhè ge xiàng mù.
    The two companies are locked in a fierce struggle, both wanting to win this project.
  • 龙争虎斗，。
    Jué sài zhōng liǎng duì lóng zhēng hǔ dòu, guān zhòng kàn dé fēi cháng guò yǐn.
    In the finals, the two teams fought fiercely, and the audience thoroughly enjoyed it.

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.

龙争dragon struggles
龙lóngdragon争zhēngstruggle
主谓Subject + predicate
虎斗tiger fights
虎hǔtiger斗dòufight
主谓Subject + predicate

龙争 and 虎斗 put dragon and tiger in parallel struggling and fighting, expressing a fierce showdown.

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 龍; 龙 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 龍 originally drew a sacred creature with a large mouth and a snake-like body; the simplified 龙 is the form written here.

Open 龙 →

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.

虎 originally drew a tiger's head. Its body disappeared, and the legs and tail became the lower part.

Open 虎 →

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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