How to say "fight" in Japanese

• 戦闘せんとうJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers combat: fighting between armed forces or organized opponents, as in military engagements. It names the violent, physical clash itself, not a personal quarrel or an argument.
  軍隊ぐんたいは戦闘せんとうの配置はいちで整列せいれつしていた。↗

  The troops were in battle array.
• 戦いたたかいJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe broad word for a fight or battle, whether an actual clash of armies or a struggle against hardship or illness; it frames the fight as something one wages.
  戦たたかいは人間にんげんの獣性じゅうせいをよびおこす。↗

  War arouses the animal in man.
• 喧嘩けんかJLPT N4approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe word for a fight between people: a quarrel or scuffle between friends, family or children, whether verbal or physical. It does not cover warfare or organized combat.
  ケンとけんかしたのか。↗

  Did you have a fight with Ken?
• 争いあらそいJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounPoints to dispute, strife and conflict between parties — a feud or ongoing disagreement rather than a single bout of fighting. Physical clashes fall under it too, but the emphasis is on the conflict itself.
  金銭きんせんのことで彼かれと争あらそいになった。↗

  I had a quarrel with him over money.
• ファイトJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounLoanword from English. Seldom the word for an actual fight, it mainly appears in fixed phrases and as a shout of encouragement; for a fight itself, another word is usually the right choice.

For armed or organized combat use 戦闘, for battles and struggles 「戦い」, for personal quarrels and scuffles 喧嘩, and for disputes or feuds 「争い」; 「ファイト」 is a loanword heard mainly in cheers and fixed phrases.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 戦闘せんとうbattle
• 戦いたたかいbattle
• 喧嘩けんかquarrel
• 争いあらそいfight
• ファイトfight
• 立ち回りたちまわりfight
• 闘争とうそうfight
• 合戦かっせんbattle
• もめるto disagree
• 打ち合ううちあうto hit each other
• 戦うたたかうto make war (on)
• 渡り合うわたりあうto fight (with)
• 戦いくさwar
• 対戦たいせんfighting (against)
• トラブルtrouble
• 大立ち回りおおたちまわりfight
• 闘諍とうじょうfight
• 矛を交えるほこをまじえるto fight
• 揉め事もめごとquarrel
• バトるto battle
• 叩き合うたたきあうto strike each other
• 組み打ちくみうちgrapple
• 乱闘騒ぎらんとうさわぎbrawl
• 殴り合うなぐりあうto exchange blows
• 争闘そうとうstrife
• 格闘かくとう(hand-to-hand) fight
• 闘志とうしfighting spirit
• ばちばちto fight
• ちゃんちゃんばらばらfight
• いがみ合ういがみあうto quarrel
• 合わせるあわせるto put blade to blade
• 出入りでいりfight
• 合わすあわすto put blade to blade