The Chinese word 搏斗 (bódòu) is a compound verb formed by combining two characters with closely related meanings to create a more vivid and specific concept. The first character, 搏 (bó), originally conveys the idea of "grappling", "hand-to-hand combat", or "physical struggle". The second character, 斗 (dòu), means "to fight", "to contend", or "to battle". When paired together, they reinforce and intensify each other, forming a word that specifically denotes a fierce, often physical, struggle or life-and-death fight, such as in combat, against the elements, or in a metaphorical sense against adversity.