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战争 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
战争
zhànzhēng
war
HSK 6, n, 15 strokes, rank #979, Hard
战争
zhànzhēng
conflict
HSK 6, n, 15 strokes, rank #979, Hard
zhànzhēng(zhan4zheng1)zhan zheng T4
1war
2conflict
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March 24, 2026
战争(戰爭)zhànzhēng(zhan4zheng1)
战争 refers to a state of armed conflict between different countries or different groups within a country. It often involves organized military forces and can arise from political, economic, or ideological disputes. This term is commonly used in historical, political, and media contexts.
Strokes15Frequency#979DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese history, wars have significantly shaped the development of the nation, with events like the Opium Wars and the Chinese Civil War deeply influencing modern Chinese society and politics. Understanding 战争 allows learners to grasp the impact of these historical conflicts on contemporary China.
Memory tip
Think of 战 (zhàn) as a battlefield where soldiers are engaged in combat, and 争 (zhēng) as a struggle or fight. Together, they create the image of a fierce battle where conflict is inevitable, helping you remember that 战争 means war.
Meanings of 战争
zhànzhēng(zhan4zheng1)
1war
2conflict
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About 战争
战争Simplified
戰爭Traditional
15Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#979Frequency Rank
场Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 战争
Podcast: 战争
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AI study notes for 战争
Quick Contrast
冲突 (chōngtú) refers to a conflict that may not involve armed forces, while 战争 (zhànzhēng) specifically denotes a state of armed conflict.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 战争 with other terms for conflict, like 争吵 (zhēngchǎo), which means argument. The word is formal and often used in serious discussions, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include '战争爆发' (break out of war) and '战争期间' (during the war).
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 5, students should focus on understanding the term in both historical and contemporary contexts. It relates to other words like '和平' (hépíng, peace) and '冲突' (chōngtū, conflict), enriching vocabulary around topics of conflict and resolution.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 战争 by applying it to minor disputes, for example saying '我们今天有战争' (We have war today), when they mean a simple argument. The correct phrase would be '我们今天有争论' (We have a debate today).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 战争
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战争 refers to a state of armed conflict between different countries or different groups within a country. It often involves organized military forces and can arise from political, economic, or ideological disputes. This term is commonly used in historical, political, and media contexts.
When to use 战争
Be careful not to confuse 战争 with other terms for conflict, like 争吵 (zhēngchǎo), which means argument. The word is formal and often used in serious discussions, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include '战争爆发' (break out of war) and '战争期间' (during the war).
战争 or something close to it
冲突 (chōngtú) refers to a conflict that may not involve armed forces, while 战争 (zhànzhēng) specifically denotes a state of armed conflict.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 战争 by applying it to minor disputes, for example saying '我们今天有战争' (We have war today), when they mean a simple argument. The correct phrase would be '我们今天有争论' (We have a debate today).
Write 战争
战
争
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Grammar patterns of 战争
战争 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
