to dispute, to fight, to contend, to strive

JLPT N4 6 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Usage and Nuances of

The character (zhēng) primarily means 'to dispute,' 'to fight,' or 'to contend.' It often appears in contexts involving competition, conflict, or striving for something.

Common Uses

  • Literal disputes or fights, e.g., over land or rights.
  • Competition or rivalry, such as students competing to answer questions.
  • Striving or fighting to obtain something, like a position or opportunity.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 争取 (zhēngqǔ): to strive for, to fight for something actively.
  • 争论 (zhēnglùn): to argue or debate.
  • 争夺 (zhēngduó): to compete for possession or control.

Register and Tone

is neutral in tone but often implies a certain intensity or effort. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

Common Confusions

Do not confuse with 争吵 (zhēngchǎo), which specifically means 'to quarrel' or 'to argue loudly.' alone can be broader, including competition and striving, not just verbal fights.

Example Sentences

They disputed over this piece of land for a long time.

The students competed to answer the teacher's question.

He fought for and obtained an important project leader position.