Chinese word

搏斗

Pronunciation

Pinyinbó dòu

Meaning

  • verbfight

Example

酒吧里两人因争吵开始搏斗。jiǔ bā lǐ liǎng rén yīn zhēng chǎo kāi shǐ bó dòu

The two people in the bar started fighting because of an argument.

Illustration for 搏斗 (fight)

More examples

他在训练中与教练搏斗，练习近身防卫。tā zài xùn liàn zhōng yǔ jiào liàn bó dòu liàn xí jìn shēn fáng wèi

During training, he fought with his coach to practice close-range defense.

Core concept

A close physical struggle in which opposing people use their bodies to overpower each other.

Common phrases

  • 与对手搏斗yǔ duì shǒu bó dòu

    fight an opponent

  • 开始搏斗kāi shǐ bó dòu

    start fighting

  • 持续搏斗chí xù bó dòu

    continue fighting

Similar words

打架dǎ jià: To get into a fight involving punches or other physical violence.
打斗dǎ dòu: To fight physically by hitting, grappling, or struggling with an opponent.
殴打ōu dǎ: To strike someone hard with the hands or an object and cause injury.
格斗gé dòu: To engage in combat involving grappling, throwing, or restraining an opponent.

Definition in Chinese

以手或身体互相搏击、争斗，侧重激烈的肉体冲突和殴打。yǐ shǒu huò shēn tǐ hù xiāng bó jī zhēng dòu cè zhòng jī liè de ròu tǐ chōng tū hé ōu dǎ

Word origin

搏 (bó, "grapple") + 斗 (dòu, "fight") join a hands-on action with the idea of combat, which gives the compound its strong physical sense.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may use "fight" for an argument, but this Chinese verb points to bodily contact and is unsuitable for a purely verbal disagreement.

Other meanings

  • wrestleverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 搏击bó jīfightverb
  • 肉搏ròu bóhand-to-hand combatnoun

Word lists with this word