fight

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is とう, and the kun reading is たたかう. It has 18 strokes. It appears in words for fighting and combat.
• Basic usage: 闘う is read たたかう and 戦闘 is read せんとう.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 闘う / 戦闘
  • 闘う means to fight or to struggle and is read たたかう. It describes fighting an illness or opponent.
  • 主人公は病と闘いながら絵を描き続けた。 means “The main character continued to paint while fighting the illness.”
  • 戦闘 means battle or combat and is read せんとう. It refers to combat, such as a battle scene or fighting that residents avoid.
  • 物語の戦闘場面は短く抑えられていた。 means “The battle scene in the story was brief and restrained.”