Details
Description
Fight/Battle - struggle, combat, determination.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of gate and measure/fight. Fighting within gate.
Symbolism
Battle, competition, combat. Represents fierce conflict and will to victory.
Spiritual Meaning
Represents spiritual battle in martial arts, fighting not only external enemies but inner weakness.
Component Breakdown
Gate + dipper
Words & Expressions
Words written with 闘
Four-Character Compounds
悪戦苦闘
あくせんくとう
hard fighting; hard struggle; fighting against heavy odds
孤軍奮闘
こぐんふんとう
fighting alone
闘志満々
とうしまんまん
brimming with fighting spirit; being strong in the will to fight; burning with combativeness
力戦奮闘
りきせんふんとう
fighting with all one's might; fighting up against; making strenuous efforts
奮闘努力
ふんとうどりょく
try one's best; all-out effort; strenuous efforts
Proverbs & Idioms
戦わずして勝つ
たたかわずしてかつ
Win without fighting
The best victory is one achieved without battle
百戦百勝は善の善なるものに非ず
ひゃくせんひゃくしょうはぜんのぜんなるものにあらず
Winning a hundred battles is not the best
True excellence is defeating the enemy without fighting
Anime & Manga
闘牌伝説アカギ
Akagi
Intense drama depicting life-or-death mahjong battles
バキ
Baki
Depicts battles of martial artists seeking to be the strongest
ケンガンアシュラ
Kengan Ashura
Fighting matches as proxy wars between corporations
戦闘員、派遣します！
Combatants Will Be Dispatched!
A well-known work with 闘 in its Japanese title.
勘違いの工房主～英雄パーティの元雑用係が、実は戦闘以外がSSSランクだったというよくある話～
The Unaware Atelier Meister
A well-known work with 闘 in its Japanese title.
Games
ストリートファイター6
Street Fighter 6(2023)
Latest in the world-famous fighting game series
View on Amazon →Other kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 闘 mean in Japanese?
闘 means fight, war. Fight/Battle - struggle, combat, determination.
How do you read 闘?
On'yomi: トウ (TOU). Kun'yomi: たたか.う、あらそ.う (tatakau, arasou).
How many strokes does 闘 have?
闘 has 18 strokes. Its radical is 門 (gate).
Is 闘 a good kanji for a tattoo?
闘 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means fight, war. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.