斗

鬥/鬦/鬪/鬭

dǒu, dòu

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

dòu (verb) to fight; to struggle; to compete

dǒu ( noun) dry measure for grain (decaliter); cup; dipper

Etymology

Pictograph of a ladle or dipper. In simplified Chinese 斗 is also used to mean "fight, struggle", while in traditional Chinese this meaning is written with a separate character 鬥.

About

斗 is a merger of two distinct characters. Originally, it was a pictograph of a ladle or dipper, later used as a unit of dry measure and as the name of the Big Dipper constellation. In traditional Chinese, the separate character 鬥 denoted fighting or struggling, showing two people in combat. In simplified Chinese, 斗 took on that meaning as well, now representing both a ladle/measure and fight/struggle.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他们在斗蟋蟀。

Tāmen zài dòu xīshuài.

They are fighting crickets.

北斗星在夜空中闪耀。

Běidǒuxīng zài yèkōng zhōng shǎnyào.

The Big Dipper shines in the night sky.

他斗不过那个强壮的人。

Tā dòu bù guò nàgè qiángzhuàng de rén.

He can't defeat that strong person.

这个斗篷是红色的。

Zhège dǒupeng shì hóngsè de.

This cloak is red.

农民用斗量米。

Nóngmín yòng dǒu liáng mǐ.

Farmers use a dou to measure rice.

在斗争中，他学会了勇敢。

Zài dòuzhēng zhōng, tā xuéhuìle yǒnggǎn.

In the struggle, he learned to be brave.

孩子们斗来斗去，最后成了朋友。

Háizimen dòu lái dòu qù, zuìhòu chéngle péngyou.

The children fought back and forth, but finally became friends.

尽管他斗胆尝试，但结果并不理想。

Jǐnguǎn tā dǒudǎn chángshì, dàn jiéguǒ bìng bù lǐxiǎng.

Although he boldly tried, the result was not ideal.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 斗

斗