70469
I would like to know the difference in usage between these two godan and
intransitive verbs :

> 闘う{たたかう}
>
> 戦う{たたかう}

When is one chosen over the other? Is 戦う more related to the _war_ and 闘う to
the _fight_?
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-31T13:30:21.260
70459
2019-09-01T07:30:21.420
2019-08-31T15:42:55.993
9831
29500
question
word-choice words kanji-choice
What is the difference in usage between 闘う and 戦う?
According to **The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide** dictionary:

戦う has these meanings:

  1. wage war, fight
  2. contest, contend, play a match [game]

And 闘う is:

(struggle with) fight (against), contend with, strive against

The following examples are given:

敵と戦うfight one's enemy

議論を戦わす have a discussion

正正堂堂と戦おう Let's play the game fairly

闘い struggle, conflict

困難と闘う contend with difficulties

Sanseido’s
[Daijirin](https://kotobank.jp/word/%E6%88%A6%E3%81%86%E3%83%BB%E9%97%98%E3%81%86-320275)
has this notice:

> 「戦う」は“戦争する。勝ち負けを争う”の意。「敵国と戦う」「選挙で戦う」「優勝をかけて戦う」
> 「闘う」は“困難などを克服しようとする”の意。「労使が闘う」「難病と闘う」「暑さと闘う」〔ともに「格闘する・争う」意で用法も似ているが、「戦う」の方をより広義に用い、「闘う」は「格闘する」意に限定して、比較的小さな争いに用いられることが多い。また、比喩的に、見えないものとの精神的な争いにも「闘う」を用いる〕

So it seems that 戦う is more suitable in military, sports or political contexts
(win or lose against an opponent) and 闘う in the context of struggling with or
overcoming difficulties.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-01T07:22:54.917
70469
2019-09-01T07:30:21.420
2019-09-01T07:30:21.420
3295
3295
70459
answer