格闘

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 格闘 is read as かくとう and is a noun and する verb for close physical combat or a difficult struggle with an object or problem.
• Basic usage: A fight between two people appears in 二人の格闘, while struggling with a tight bottle cap appears in 瓶のふたと格闘する.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Literal combat and figurative struggle
  • It can describe an intense physical fight or figuratively the effort of wrestling with a difficult object or problem.
• Difference from 戦う
  • 戦う broadly means to fight in a contest, war, or difficult situation, while 格闘 more strongly suggests close engagement or wrestling with one obstacle.