conflict · contend

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The verb 争う, read あらそう, means to quarrel or compete.
• Basic usage: It covers not only disputes over objects but also competition such as 優勝を争う, competing for a championship.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Opponent and object of competition
  • In 相手と優勝を争う, と marks the opponent and を marks the championship being contested.
  • Who someone competes with and what they compete for have different roles.
• Competition and war
  • 競争, read きょうそう, means competition; 戦争, read せんそう, means war.
  • Not every word containing 争 refers to armed conflict.