戦う

• Reading: たたかう
• Romaji: tatakau
• Kanji breakdown: 戦 (sen/tatakau) — war, fight, battle
• Pronunciation: /ta.ta.ka.ɯ/

Meaning

To fight; to battle; to compete. Engaging in combat, competition, or struggle against an opponent.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb. Used for physical combat (敵と戦う, to fight an enemy), sports competition (チームと戦う, to compete against a team), and figurative struggles (病気と戦う, to fight illness). More formal than けんかする (to quarrel). The kanji 戦 also appears in 戦争 (war) and 挑戦 (challenge).

Examples

1. サッカーの試合で強いチームと戦った。 We played against a strong team in the soccer match.
2. 彼女は長い間病気と戦っている。 She has been fighting her illness for a long time.
3. 最後まであきらめずに戦おう。 Let's fight to the very end without giving up.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, history, daily life

Tone: determined

Origin & History

The kanji 戦 combines 単 (single/simple) and 戈 (halberd/weapon). Originally 'to wield a weapon' — direct combat. Over time, extended to any form of contest or struggle.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal