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On'yomi
トウ
TOU
Kun'yomi
たたか.う・あらそ.う
tatakau / arasou

fight · war

powerful

Details

Strokes18
Frequency#751
Radicalgate(8)
Old Form

Description

Fight/Battle - struggle, combat, determination.

Stroke Order

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Strokes18

Component Breakdown

=

Gate + dipper

Cultural Context

Etymology

Composed of gate and measure/fight. Fighting within gate.

Symbolism

Battle, competition, combat. Represents fierce conflict and will to victory.

Spiritual Meaning

Represents spiritual battle in martial arts, fighting not only external enemies but inner weakness.

Anime & Manga

闘牌伝説アカギ

とうはいでんせつあかぎ

Akagi(2005)

manga/anime

Intense drama depicting life-or-death mahjong battles

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バキ

ばき

Baki(2018)

manga/anime

Depicts battles of martial artists seeking to be the strongest

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ケンガンアシュラ

けんがんあしゅら

Kengan Ashura(2019)

manga/anime

Fighting matches as proxy wars between corporations

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Games

ストリートファイター6

Street Fighter 6(2023)

PS5/Xbox/PC

Latest in the world-famous fighting game series

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鉄拳8

Tekken 8(2024)

PS5/Xbox/PC

Latest in the landmark 3D fighting game series

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Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

悪戦苦闘

あくせんくとう

hard fighting; hard struggle; fighting against heavy odds; hard fighting

孤軍奮闘

こぐんふんとう

fighting alone; fighting alone

闘志満々

とうしまんまん

brimming with fighting spirit; being strong in the will to fight; burning with combativeness; brimming with fighting spirit

力戦奮闘

りきせんふんとう

fighting with all one's might; fighting up against; making strenuous efforts; fighting with all one's might

奮闘努力

ふんとうどりょく

try one's best; all-out effort; strenuous efforts; try one's best

Proverbs & Idioms

戦わずして勝つ

たたかわずしてかつ

Win without fighting

The best victory is one achieved without battle

百戦百勝は善の善なるものに非ず

ひゃくせんひゃくしょうはぜんのぜんなるものにあらず

Winning a hundred battles is not the best

True excellence is defeating the enemy without fighting