Oracle bone script shows a curved U-shaped object placed between two hands (又), one above and one below.
This depicts two people pulling at the same object, symbolizing conflict or competition.
Over time, the form was standardized into the current character.

Semantic range:
- to fight or quarrel – 다투다, 싸우다
- to argue or debate – 논쟁하다
- to compete for something – 다투어 차지하다, 경쟁하다

논쟁 (論爭) – debate, argument
쟁탈 (爭奪) – struggle, contest, fight over
전쟁 (戰爭) – war
쟁의 (爭議) – dispute, controversy
투쟁 (鬪爭) – struggle, fight

Characters

Words

Vocabulary

pond, marsh, swamp, moist, damp, glistening, benefit, favor, grace

wave, billow, surging water

disaster, calamity, catastrophe, fire, conflagration

fierce, intense, violent, strong, severe, vehement, ardent, passionate

to not have, none, nothing

so, thus, in that way

to simmer, to decoct, to fry

to be cooked, ripe, done, to ripen, mature, to be skilled, practiced, familiar

to contend, struggle, quarrel, to compete, vie for, to argue, dispute

to do, to act, to become, to turn into, for the sake of, on behalf of

thing, object, matter, “something, stuff” in general usage

to pull, to lead

to commit, violate, offender, criminal, to intrude, trespass, encroach

form, shape, appearance, document, written form

prison, jail, lawsuit, litigation, trial

alone, solitary, by oneself, single, unique, lonely, isolated

to offer, present, dedicate, to sacrifice, to devote

Explore the meaning, etymology and usage of this Chinese character. Learn its radical and how it is applied in Korean language.

Chinese character

Explore 214 Chinese radicals and their derived characters. Sort by radical or stroke count, and view the complete list of official Hanja radicals.

Chinese characters (Hanja)

Chinese characters dictionary

爭

Etymology

Usage in Korean

Characters next to each other in the list

References