戦
war, battle, match
Readings
On'yomi
- セン
Kun'yomi
- いくさ
- たたか.う
- おのの.く
- そよ.ぐ
- わなな.く
Nanori
- せ
Meaning
戦 centers on armed conflict or competitive struggle: war, battle, or a match where sides clash.
Most common words using 戦
24 of 875- 戦争せんそうN4
war
- 戦いくさN1
war; battle; campaign; fight
- 戦いたたかいN3
battle; war; fight; conflict
- 戦うたたかうN3
to make war (on); to wage war (against); to go to war (with); to fight (with); to do battle (against)
- 作戦さくせんN1
tactics; strategy
- 挑戦ちょうせんN2
challenge; defiance; dare; attempt; try
- 戦闘せんとうN1
battle; fight; combat
- 戦略せんりゃく
strategy; tactics
- 参戦さんせん
participation in a war; going to war
- 戦士せんし
soldier; combatant; warrior
- 対戦たいせん
fighting (against); taking on (an opponent); facing; confronting; competing (with); battle; fight; contest; match
- 戦後せんごN1
postwar period; period after Second World War
- 大戦たいせんN3
great war; great battle
- 戦車せんしゃN1
tank (military vehicle)
- 戦場せんじょうN1
battlefield; battleground
- 戦国せんごく
country in civil war; country disarrayed by war
- 戦前せんぜんN1
pre-war days; before the war
- 観戦かんせんN1
watching a (sports) game; spectating; observing (military operations)
- 戦術せんじゅつN1
tactics
- 戦力せんりょくN1
war potential; military strength; fighting power
- 戦艦せんかん
battleship
- 合戦かっせん
battle; fight; fighting; engagement; contest
- 回戦かいせん
event with ... rounds, innings, legs, etc.
- 敗戦はいせんN1
defeat; lost battle; losing a war
Study
Etymology
戦 is the modern simplified form of 戰. The older form combines 單 (a hunting weapon or net) with 戈 (halberd), together expressing the idea of warfare or fighting. The modern left side 単 is a simplification of 單.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 単 suggests a simple or single thing, and the right side 戈 is a halberd. Imagine a lone warrior with a halberd stepping into battle: 戦 is war or a match.
Reading mnemonic
For セン, picture a battle scene where a centurion (セン) leads the charge with a halberd: cent -> セン, and the warrior fights in the war.