争夺

• Pinyin: zhēng duó
• Hanzi breakdown: 争 = 爪 (claw) + 手 (hand), fighting over something; 夺 = 大 (big) + 寸 (measure) simplified

Meaning

To fight for; to compete fiercely for possession or control of something.

Implies intense competition or struggle, often for limited resources, positions, or prizes. Common in contexts of sports championships, market share, territorial disputes, or custody battles. Stronger than simple 竞争 (competition).

Examples

1. 两支球队正在争夺本赛季的联赛冠军。 The two teams are fighting for this season's league championship.
2. 各大科技公司都在争夺人工智能领域的市场份额。 Major tech companies are all competing for market share in the artificial intelligence sector.
3. 历史上，这片土地曾被多个国家争夺。 Historically, this land was fought over by multiple nations.

Usage Guide

Context: competition, sports, business

Tone: intense

Do Say

• 他们在争夺第一名的位置。(They are fighting for first place.)
• 市场争夺战越来越激烈了。(The battle for market share is getting increasingly fierce.)

Don't Say

• 我们在争夺友谊。(Awkward — 争夺 is for competition, not cooperative relationships)

Origin & History

Compound of 争 (compete, fight for) and 夺 (seize, take by force). Together they emphasize fierce competition to gain control.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal