Translation and Meaning of: 戦う - tatakau

If you are learning Japanese or have an interest in the language, you may have come across the word 戦う (たたかう). It is common in dialogues, animes, and even in more formal contexts. But what exactly does it mean? How and when should you use it? In this article, we will explore the meaning, origin, and uses of this word, as well as tips for memorization and interesting facts about its role in Japanese culture.

Meaning and translation of 戦う (tatakau)

戦う (たたかう) is a Japanese verb that means "to fight," "to combat," or "to battle." It can be used in both literal contexts, such as wars and competitions, as well as in more metaphorical situations, like facing difficulties or personal challenges. The most direct translation into English would be "to fight," but the meaning can vary depending on the context.

It is worth noting that 戦う does not limit itself to physical conflicts. In Japan, it is common to hear expressions like "病気と戦う" (byouki to tatakau), which means "to fight against an illness." This flexibility makes the word quite versatile in everyday life.

Origin and writing of the kanji 戦

The kanji 戦 (sen) is composed of two radicals: 戈 (hoko), which represents a weapon or spear, and 単 (tan), which originally meant "simple" or "unique." Together, they form the ideogram that carries the idea of conflict or battle. This combination reflects the meaning of the word well, since 戦う is directly related to the notion of confrontation.

It is interesting to note that 戦う also appears in compound words, such as 戦争 (sensou - war) and 戦略 (senryaku - strategy). Its use dates back to ancient texts, showing that the concept of fighting has always been relevant in Japanese culture, whether in real battles or in symbolic contexts.

Cultural use and frequency in Japanese

In Japan, 戦う (tatakau) is a word that goes beyond the military sense. It is present in motivational expressions, such as "自分と戦う" (jibun to tatakau - fight against oneself), frequently used in self-improvement speeches. This approach reflects values such as perseverance and resilience, which are highly valued in Japanese society.

Moreover, the word is common in animes and mangas, especially in action and overcoming stories. Characters who "fight for their ideals" (理想のために戦う - risou no tame ni tatakau) are a frequent archetype, reinforcing the connection between 戦う and themes such as courage and determination.

Tips for memorizing 戦う

An effective way to remember 戦う is to associate it with fight scenes in animes or movies. For example, in "Naruto," characters often say "戦おう!" (tatakaou! - let's fight!). This type of context helps to memorize not only the meaning but also the correct intonation.

Another tip is to practice with everyday sentences, such as "毎日、忙しさと戦っている" (mainichi, isogashisa to tatakatte iru - I am fighting against the busyness every day). Using the word in real situations makes it easier to internalize the vocabulary.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 戦う

• 戦う - Male present
• 戦う - Female gift
• 戦おう - Masculine imperative
• 戦え - imperative

Synonyms and similar words

• 闘う (tatakau) - Fight, battle
• 戦闘する (sentou suru) - Engage in combat, conduct a battle
• 争う (arau) - Dispute, fight
• 競う (kisou) - Compete, rival
• 紛争する (funsou suru) - Raise a conflict, dispute
• 闘争する (tousou suru) - Fight or resist for a cause, violent conflict
• 抗う (arawaru) - Resist, oppose to
• 反抗する (hankou suru) - Rebel, resist to authority
• 争奪する (soudatsu suru) - To dispute something valuable, to fight for possession.
• 戦 (ikusa) - War, battle (old form)
• 闘争 (tousou) - Conflict, ongoing struggle
• 抗争 (kousou) - Conflict between groups, violent rivalry
• 反抗 (hankou) - Attitude of rebellion, resistance
• 対抗する (taikou suru) - Oppose, compete against
• 競争する (kyousou suru) - Compete, competition
• 競い合う (kiesiau) - Mutual competitions, rival to compete

戦う

Romaji: tatakau
Kana: たたかう
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: to fight; to battle; fight; fight against; make war; participate in a competition.

Meaning in English: to fight;to battle;to combat;to struggle against;to wage war;to engage in contest

Definition: To fight and compete with the enemy.

Example Sentences - (戦う) tatakau

See below some example sentences:

私たちは勇気を持って戦う必要があります。

Watashitachi wa yūki o motte tatakau hitsuyō ga arimasu

We need to fight with courage.

• 私たちは - Personal pronoun "we"
• 勇気を持って - "With courage"
• 戦う - "lutar"
• 必要があります - "It is necessary"

戦いは必ずしも悪ではない。

Tatakai wa kanarazu shimo aku de wa nai

The battle is not necessarily bad.

The battle is not always bad.

• 戦い - battle, fight
• は - Topic particle
• 必ずしも - not necessarily, not mandatory
• 悪 - bad, wrong
• ではない - Não é

兵隊は勇敢に戦いました。

Heitai wa yuukan ni tatakaimashita

The soldiers fought bravely.

• 兵隊 (heitai) - soldiers
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 勇敢に (yuukan ni) - bravely
• 戦いました (tatakaimashita) - fought

彼は敵を退けるために必死に戦った。

Kare wa teki o shirizokeru tame ni hisshi ni tatakatta

He struggled desperately to fend off the enemy.

He struggled desperately to reject the enemy.

• 彼 (kare) - He
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 敵 (teki) - enemy
• を (wo) - Direct object particle
• 退ける (shirizokeru) - Repel
• ために (tameni) - For
• 必死に (hisshi ni) - Desperately
• 戦った (tatakatta) - Struggled

彼女は敵を滅ぼすために戦った。

Kanojo wa teki o horobosu tame ni tatakatta

She fought to destroy the enemy.

• 彼女 - she
• は - Topic particle
• 敵 - enemy
• を - direct object particle
• 滅ぼす - destroy, annihilate
• ために - in order to
• 戦った - fought (past tense of the verb 戦う - tatakau)

正義を守るために戦います。

Seigi wo mamoru tame ni tatakaimasu

I will fight to protect justice.

Fight to protect justice.

• 正義 - It means "justice" in Japanese.
• を - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence.
• 守る - Verb that means "protect" or "defend".
• ために - expression that indicates the purpose or objective of the action, in this case, "to protect justice".
• 戦います - verb that means "fight" or "combat".

盾を持って戦いましょう。

Tate wo motte tatakaimashou

Let's fight a shield.

• 盾 (tate) - shield
• を (wo) - object particle
• 持って (motte) - segurando
• 戦いましょう (tatakaimashou) - let's fight