zhēng

争

HSK 3Character · Verb · PronounTraditional爭

compete; strive; argue

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 15 examples
1.

verb

to compete for; to strive for; to fight for

Used for competing for titles, resources, opportunities, etc.

Yùn运
dòng动
yuán员
men们
zhèng正
zài在
zhēng争
duó夺
guàn冠
jūn军
 。

Athletes are competing for the championship.

Wǒ我
men们
yào要
lì力
zhēng争
shàng上
yóu游
 ,
zhēng争
qǔ取
gèng更
hǎo好
de的
chéng成
jì绩
 。

We should strive for excellence and aim for better results.

Show 3 more examples
Tā他
fēn分
miǎo秒
bì必
zhēng争
de地
wán完
chéng成
le了
zhè这
xiàng项
rèn任
wù务
 。

He finished the task by making the most of every minute.

Dà大
jiā家
zhēng争
zhe着
jǔ举
shǒu手
huí回
dá答
lǎo老
shī师
de的
wèn问
tí题
 。

Everyone vied to raise their hands to answer the teacher's question.

Liǎng两
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
zhèng正
zài在
zhēng争
duó夺
zhè这
ge个
xiàng项
mù目
de的
hé合
zuò作
quán权
 。

Two companies are competing for the cooperation right of this project.

2.

verb

to argue; to dispute; to quarrel

Used for disagreeing and arguing over opinions, facts, or interests.

Tā他
men们
liǎ俩
zhèng正
zài在
wèi为
zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
zhēng争
chǎo吵
bù不
xiū休
 。

The two of them are arguing nonstop about this matter.

Zhè这
ge个
huà话
tí题
yǐn引
fā发
le了
jī激
liè烈
de的
zhēng争
lùn论
 。

This topic has sparked intense debate.

Show 3 more examples
Tā他
men们
zhǐ只
shì是
yì意
qì气
zhī之
zhēng争
 ,
bìng并
méi没
yǒu有
shí实
zhì质
de的
máo矛
dùn盾
 。

They just quarreled out of pique, with no real conflict.

Wǒ我
men们
yǐ已
jīng经
dá达
chéng成
gòng共
shí识
 ,
bù不
yòng用
zài再
zhēng争
lùn论
le了
 。

We have reached a consensus, so there's no need to argue anymore.

Bù不
yào要
wèi为
le了
xiǎo小
shì事
hé和
péng朋
yǒu友
zhēng争
chǎo吵
 。

Don't quarrel with your friends over small matters.

3.

pronoun

how; how could (ancient Chinese)

archaic

This usage is rare in modern Chinese, mostly found in classical Chinese poetry, lyrics, and operas.

Shéi谁
zhī知
pán盘
zhōng中
cān餐
 ,
lì粒
lì粒
jiē皆
xīn辛
kǔ苦
 。

Who knows the food on the plate, every grain is hard-won.

Zhēng争
nài奈
cǐ此
qíng情
cǐ此
jǐng景
 ,
wéi唯
yǒu有
àn暗
zì自
shén神
shāng伤
 。

How can we bear this scene, we can only grieve silently.

Show 3 more examples
Zhēng争
rěn忍
jiàn见
cǐ此
qī凄
liáng凉
jǐng景
xiàng象
 ?

How can we bear to see such a desolate scene?

Zhēng争
zhī知
wǒ我
jīn今
rì日
huì会
lái来
dào到
cǐ此
dì地
 ?

Who knew I would come here today?

Cǐ此
qǔ曲
zhǐ只
yīng应
tiān天
shàng上
yǒu有
 ,
rén人
jiān间
néng能
dé得
jǐ几
huí回
wén闻
 。

This melody should only exist in heaven, how many times can one hear it in the mortal world.