争う

• Reading: あらそう
• Romaji: arasou
• Kanji breakdown: 争 (arasou/sou) — dispute, fight, compete
• Pronunciation: /a.ɾa.so.ɯ/

Meaning

To dispute; to argue; to fight; to compete. To engage in conflict or rivalry with someone.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb. Covers a wide range from verbal arguments (意見を争う) to physical fights (戦いを争う) to competition (順位を争う). Related nouns include 争い (dispute/conflict) and 競争 (competition). The particle と marks the opponent: AとBが争う.

Examples

1. 二つのチームが優勝を争っている。 Two teams are competing for the championship.
2. 兄弟で遺産を争うのは悲しいことだ。 It's sad when siblings fight over an inheritance.
3. 彼らは長い間その土地をめぐって争った。 They fought over that land for a long time.

Usage Guide

Context: competition, conflict, news

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 争 depicts two hands pulling at the same object — a vivid image of people competing for the same thing.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal