战胜

• Pinyin: zhàn shèng
• Hanzi breakdown: 战 = 单 + 戈 (spear), to fight; 胜 = 力 (strength) + 朕, to win or surpass

Meaning

To defeat; to overcome; to triumph over. Used for defeating an opponent or conquering a difficulty.

Can be used in both literal and figurative senses — defeating an enemy in battle, winning against an opponent in sport, or overcoming personal challenges such as fear or illness. Followed directly by the person, team, or obstacle overcome.

Examples

1. 她凭借顽强的意志战胜了病魔，重新站了起来。 She overcame the illness through sheer willpower and got back on her feet.
2. 我们队以三比一战胜了对手，顺利晋级。 Our team defeated the opponent three to one and successfully advanced to the next round.
3. 只要努力，你一定能战胜眼前的困难。 As long as you work hard, you will definitely be able to overcome the difficulties ahead of you.

Usage Guide

Context: competition, personal development, sports

Tone: motivational

Do Say

• 运动员战胜了自我，创造了新的个人纪录。(The athlete overcame their own limits and set a new personal record.)
• 我们要有信心战胜一切挑战。(We must have confidence to overcome all challenges.)

Don't Say

• 把'战胜'用于中性的超越或比较 (Don't use 战胜 for neutral comparisons or mild surpassing — it implies a hard-fought victory over a worthy obstacle or opponent)

Origin & History

A compound of 战 (to fight) and 胜 (to win, to surpass). Together they mean to achieve victory in a fight or struggle.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal