争 means “compete, conflict”

あらそう · arasou

Also: contend, dispute, argue

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

あらそう, いかでか

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ソウ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 4 · 6 strokes

The story

Two hands tugging one stick (亅) from opposite ends, one at the top and one (彐) in the middle: a struggle over the same thing. 争う is to compete or quarrel, 競争 is competition, and 戦争 is war.

Used in 争う (arasou, to compete/quarrel), 競争 (kyousou, competition), and 戦争 (sensou, war)

More from Victory & Defeat

• 位 rank
• 格 status
• 球 ball
• 負 lose
• 失 lose
• 段 step
• 敗 defeat
• 突 thrust
• 破 tear
• 抜 pull out
• 努 effort
• 倒 fall

Learn 争 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.