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March 24, 2026
斗争(鬥爭)dòuzhēng(dou4zheng1)
斗争 (dòuzhēng) refers to a struggle or fight, often in a political or ideological context. It conveys the idea of overcoming obstacles or adversaries, and is commonly used to describe conflicts, both personal and collective, that involve effort and determination.
Strokes10Frequency#3725DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
斗争 is often associated with the Chinese revolutionary history, where it was used to describe the struggles against oppression and the fight for social justice. This term holds significant weight in discussions about China's political past and present.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fierce '斗' (dòu) between two characters in a story, each fighting for what they believe in. The '争' (zhēng) represents the struggle itself, like two warriors battling it out. Together they form '斗争', capturing the essence of a vigorous fight.
Meanings of 斗争
dòuzhēng(dou4zheng1)
1a struggle
2fight
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About 斗争
斗争Simplified
鬥爭Traditional
10Strokes
—Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#3725Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 斗争
Podcast: 斗争
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AI Study Notes for 斗争
Quick Contrast
抗争 (kàngzhēng) — use 斗争 (dòuzhēng) for a broader struggle that encompasses various types of conflicts, while 抗争 (kàngzhēng) specifically emphasizes resistance against oppression or injustice.
Usage Notes
斗争 can often carry a serious tone, especially in discussions about politics or social issues. Be careful not to use it in overly casual contexts, as it might sound too intense. Common collocations include '阶级斗争' (class struggle) and '斗争精神' (spirit of struggle).
HSK Study Tips
As a level 6 HSK word, 斗争 connects with other terms related to conflict and effort, such as 战斗 (zhàndòu, battle) and 争取 (zhēngqǔ, to strive for). Focus on using it in formal contexts related to societal issues for better fluency.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using 斗争 in casual conversation, which can make the tone overly serious; for instance, saying '我在斗争工作' (I am struggling at work) is inappropriate; instead, you could say '我在努力工作' (I am working hard).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 斗争
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斗争 (dòuzhēng) refers to a struggle or fight, often in a political or ideological context. It conveys the idea of overcoming obstacles or adversaries, and is commonly used to describe conflicts, both personal and collective, that involve effort and determination.
When to use 斗争
斗争 can often carry a serious tone, especially in discussions about politics or social issues. Be careful not to use it in overly casual contexts, as it might sound too intense. Common collocations include '阶级斗争' (class struggle) and '斗争精神' (spirit of struggle).
斗争 or something close to it
抗争 (kàngzhēng) — use 斗争 (dòuzhēng) for a broader struggle that encompasses various types of conflicts, while 抗争 (kàngzhēng) specifically emphasizes resistance against oppression or injustice.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is using 斗争 in casual conversation, which can make the tone overly serious; for instance, saying '我在斗争工作' (I am struggling at work) is inappropriate; instead, you could say '我在努力工作' (I am working hard).
Write 斗争
斗
争
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Grammar Patterns of 斗争
斗争 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 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.
