δΊ‰

JLPT N3

Fight, dispute

Readings

On’yomi: ソウ (sō)
Kun’yomi: あらそ(う) (araso(u))
β€’ あらそ(う) – to fight, to compete, to argue

Vocabulary

争う
あらそう
fight
ζˆ¦δΊ‰
せんそう
war
η«ΆδΊ‰
きょうそう
competition
η΄›δΊ‰
ちんそう
conflict
θ«–δΊ‰
ろんそう
debate

Example Sentences

ε…„εΌŸγ§δΊ‰γ„γΎγ™γ€‚
きょうだい で あらそいます。
Siblings fight.
ζˆ¦δΊ‰γ―ε«Œγ§γ™γ€‚
せんそう は いや です。
I hate war.
η«ΆδΊ‰γŒζΏ€γ—γ„γ§γ™γ€‚
きょうそう が はげしい です。
Competition is intense.
η΄›δΊ‰γŒηΆšγγΎγ™γ€‚
ちんそう が ぀γ₯きます。
The conflict continues.
論争にγͺγ‚ŠγΎγ™γ€‚
ろんそう に γͺγ‚ŠγΎγ™γ€‚
It becomes a debate.

Cultural Note

πŸ•ŠοΈ δΊ‰ often appears in both negative and constructive contexts in Japanese culture.
β€’ Negatively, it conveys conflict or strife, as in ζˆ¦δΊ‰ (war) or η΄›δΊ‰ (dispute) β€” reminding of the value of peace.
β€’ Positively, it can reflect healthy competition, as in η«ΆδΊ‰ (rivalry) β€” seen as motivation for growth and excellence.
β€’ Japanese idioms like γ€ŒδΊ‰γ‚γšγ—γ¦ε‹γ€γ€ (β€œwin without fighting”) reflect the ideal of achieving goals through wisdom and harmony, not violence β€” a core value in Japanese philosophy.