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Kotomora

爭

to dispute, fight, contend, strive

StatusJinmeiyō (variant)Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • ソウ

Kun'yomi

  • あらそ.う
  • いか.でか

Meaning

爭 centers on active opposition: disputing, fighting, contending, or striving against something or someone.

Study

Etymology

爭 is the traditional form of 争. It originally depicted two hands (爫 and ヨ) pulling on a rope or object (亅), symbolizing a struggle or dispute.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 爫 looks like a clawing hand, and the lower part suggests another hand pulling on a line. Two hands fighting over something: that's dispute and contention.

Reading mnemonic

For ソウ, imagine two people in a dispute both shouting 'So?!' at each other: 'So?!' -> ソウ, as they contend over the issue.