Meanings of 戰
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 戰
Podcast: 戰
Podcast: 戰
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 戰
战争 (zhànzhēng) vs 战斗 (zhàndòu) — use 战争 for broader contexts of war, while 战斗 refers specifically to battles or fights within that context.
Be careful not to confuse 戰 (zhàn) with similar characters that refer to peace or absence of conflict. This word is mostly used in a formal context, such as historical discussions or news reports about conflicts. Common collocations include '戰爭' (zhànzhēng), meaning 'war', and '戰鬥' (zhàndòu), meaning 'fight' or 'battle'.
Though 戰 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other characters related to conflict or struggle, like 贏 (yíng - to win) and 輸 (shū - to lose). Students should focus on understanding its usage in various contexts, especially in phrases associated with military or competitive settings.
Learners often confuse 戰 (zhàn) with 和 (hé), which means 'peace'. For example, saying '我們要戰和平' (wǒmen yào zhàn hé píng - 'we want to fight for peace') is incorrect; it should be '我們要爭取和平' (wǒmen yào zhēngqǔ hé píng - 'we want to strive for peace').
Pronunciation of 戰
Drill the tone of 戰 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 戰
Phonosemantic compound. 戈 represents the meaning and 占 represents the sound. Simplified form of 戰.
spear
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 戰
Phonosemantic compound. 戈 represents the meaning and 占 represents the sound. Simplified form of 戰.
- 1The meaning half戈 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half單 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayspear
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 戰? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 戰?
Decomposition of 戰
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 戰?
How to say war, fighting, battle in Chinese
“war, fighting, battle” in Chinese is戰
The character 戰 (zhàn) refers to war, fighting, or battle. It is commonly used in contexts related to military conflict, competition, or any struggle that involves intense effort and confrontation. This character can convey both physical confrontations and metaphorical struggles, such as in business or sports.
When to use 戰
Be careful not to confuse 戰 (zhàn) with similar characters that refer to peace or absence of conflict. This word is mostly used in a formal context, such as historical discussions or news reports about conflicts. Common collocations include '戰爭' (zhànzhēng), meaning 'war', and '戰鬥' (zhàndòu), meaning 'fight' or 'battle'.
戰 or something close to it
战争 (zhànzhēng) vs 战斗 (zhàndòu) — use 战争 for broader contexts of war, while 战斗 refers specifically to battles or fights within that context.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 戰 (zhàn) with 和 (hé), which means 'peace'. For example, saying '我們要戰和平' (wǒmen yào zhàn hé píng - 'we want to fight for peace') is incorrect; it should be '我們要爭取和平' (wǒmen yào zhēngqǔ hé píng - 'we want to strive for peace').
Write 戰
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 戰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 戰
Compound Meaning
What does 战争 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 戰
While 戰 is commonly recognized, its use is more prevalent in formal discussions about historical or military topics rather than in everyday conversation.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 戰?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.