分わかれ争あらそう

Meanings

1

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

to split and fight; to quarrel and separate

rare term

Rare term describing a group, family, or nation that becomes divided and then engages in conflict. Often implies internal strife leading to a split.

その一いち族ぞくは遺い産さんをめぐって分わかれ争あらそった。
The family split and fought over the inheritance.
国

くに

が

分わ

かれ

争あらそ

う

こと

は

悲ひ

劇げき

だ

。

It is a tragedy when a nation divides and fights.

Written forms

分わかれ争あらそう
Standard kanji spelling using 分かれる (to split) and 争う (to dispute).
分わかれ争あらそう
Variant with 分れ, an older okurigana usage for 分かれ.
別わかれ争あらそう
Variant using 別れ (parting), emphasizing separation rather than division.

Kanji

分part, minute of time, segment
争contend, dispute, argue
別separate, branch off, diverge

Similar words

争あらそう
争う means to dispute or compete, but does not imply division. 分かれ争う specifically adds the nuance of splitting apart before or during the conflict.
分ぶん裂れつする
分裂する means to split or break up, often used for organizations or groups, but lacks the explicit fighting element of 分かれ争う.

Etymology

Compound of 分かれ (continuative form of 分かれる, 'to split') and 争う ('to fight'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is rare in modern Japanese.