Japanese word

合戦

Pronunciation

Romajikassen

Meaning

  • nounbattle

Example

昔、武士たちは合戦をしました。mukashi bu shi ta chi wa kas sen o shi ma shi ta

In the past, samurai fought battles.

Illustration for 合戦 (battle)

More examples

戦国時代には、多くの合戦が各地で起こりました。sen goku ji dai ni wa ō ku no kas sen ga kaku chi de o ko ri ma shi ta

During the Warring States period, many battles broke out in different places.

Core concept

Refers to a clash in which rival sides face each other directly, usually in warfare but sometimes in a figurative contest.

Common phrases

  • 合戦を始めるkas sen o haji me ru

    start a battle

  • 合戦に勝つkas sen ni ka tsu

    win a battle

  • 合戦に敗れるkas sen ni yabu re ru

    lose a battle

Similar words

戦いtatakai: A broad term for a fight or battle between opposing sides.
戦闘sentō: Armed combat between organized forces during a battle.
交戦kōsen: An armed clash in which opposing forces engage each other.

Definition in Japanese

軍勢などが互いに攻め合う戦い。gun zei na do ga taga i ni se me a u tataka i

Word origin

合戦 (kassen) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 合 (katsu, "come together") and 戦 (sen, "war"), naming a battle as opposing forces meet.

Usage tips

  • Because 合戦 (kassen) has a historical flavor, modern Japanese more often uses 戦い (tatakai) for an ordinary fight or battle in everyday conversation.

Other meanings

  • fightnoun
  • contestnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word