战场

• Pinyin: zhàn chǎng
• Hanzi breakdown: 战 = 占 (phonetic) + 戈 (weapon); 场 = 土 (earth) + 昜 (phonetic)

Meaning

Battlefield; the location where a battle or war is fought.

Literally refers to military combat zones. Figuratively used for any arena of intense competition or struggle, such as business markets, political arenas, or examination halls. Often appears in motivational contexts comparing challenges to battles.

Examples

1. 士兵们在战场上浴血奋战，保卫着祖国的每一寸土地。 The soldiers fought valiantly on the battlefield, defending every inch of their homeland.
2. 商场如战场，竞争异常激烈。 The business world is like a battlefield — competition is extremely fierce.
3. 考场就是没有硝烟的战场，考生们都在全力以赴。 The examination hall is a battlefield without gunpowder smoke; all the test-takers are giving their all.

Usage Guide

Context: military, competition, figurative

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 他是从战场上活着回来的老兵。(He is a veteran who came back alive from the battlefield.)
• 职场也是一个战场。(The workplace is also a battlefield.)

Don't Say

• 我家的厨房是我的战场。(Overly dramatic for cooking — 战场 is typically for serious competition)

Origin & History

Compound of 战 (war, battle) and 场 (field, place). A classical term that has been used throughout Chinese military history.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal