格闘・挌闘|かくとうkakutou[0]heiban (flat)

Common
Which spelling to use
格闘格闘 is the most common written form, so learners should use it when writing; it is also the form they are most likely to encounter.
挌闘挌闘 is a rarely used kanji-only variant of 格闘; learners will seldom encounter it and need not choose it for ordinary writing.
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verb(hand-to-hand) fight; grapple; scuffle; tussle
    彼かれは襲撃しゅうげき者しゃを格闘かくとうして地面じめんに倒たおした。↗
    He wrestled his attacker to the ground.
  2. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbstruggling (with a problem, task, etc.); grappling; wrestling; getting to grips (with)
Conjugation
Dictionary form格闘する(かくとうする)
Polite (masu)格闘します(かくとうします)
Negative (nai)格闘しない(かくとうしない)
polite (masen)格闘しません(かくとうしません)
classical zu / nu格闘せず・格闘せぬ(かくとうせず・かくとうせぬ)
Past (ta)格闘した(かくとうした)
polite (mashita)格闘しました(かくとうしました)
Past negative (nakatta)格闘しなかった(かくとうしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)格闘しませんでした(かくとうしませんでした)
Te form格闘して(かくとうして)
Potential格闘できる(かくとうできる)
Passive格闘される(かくとうされる)
Causative格闘させる(かくとうさせる)
Causative passive格闘させられる(かくとうさせられる)
Conditional (ba)格闘すれば(かくとうすれば)
tara格闘したら(かくとうしたら)
Volitional格闘しよう(かくとうしよう)
polite (mashou)格闘しましょう(かくとうしましょう)
Imperative格闘しろ(かくとうしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym取っ組み合いとっくみあいCasualColloquial for grappling or brawling hand to hand. 「格闘」 is more formal and is also used for combat sports, as in 「格闘技」.
  • Synonym立ち回りたちまわりNeutralA fight scene, as on stage or in film, or else one's conduct and behavior; 「格闘」 refers to actual fighting.
  • Synonym組み打ちくみうちNeutralGrappling with an opponent, or cutting down an enemy in hand-to-hand combat on the battlefield. Unlike 「格闘」, it is not used figuratively for struggling with a problem.
  • Synonym揉み合いもみあいNeutralA crowd pushing, pulling and shoving against one another; 「格闘」 typically pictures two people fighting at close quarters.
  • Related乱闘らんとうWrittenWritten word for a confused brawl or melee among many people; 「格闘」 tends to be one-on-one fighting.
  • Related戦いたたかいNeutralA broad word for battle, war, struggle or a competitive match; 「格闘」 is narrower, pointing to unarmed close-quarters fighting.
  • Related闘争とうそうWrittenWritten word for struggle or conflict, including labor disputes, as in 「闘争心」; 「格闘」 is physical combat.
  • Related争闘そうとうWrittenWritten word for strife or conflict between parties; 「格闘」 is the physical, unarmed kind of fighting.
  • Related大立ち回りおおたちまわりCasualColloquial for a wild free-for-all scene of people punching and kicking; 「格闘」 names the fighting itself, not the scene.

Use 「格闘」 for hand-to-hand combat or for struggling with a difficult problem, as in 「格闘技」 and 「問題と格闘する」. For a scuffle or grapple, 「取っ組み合い」 is the colloquial pick; for a melee, 「乱闘」; for a struggle or dispute, 「闘争」. 「戦い」 is the broad everyday word for fighting or a match.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 組み合くみあって闘たたかうこと。
  2. 困難こんなんな問題もんだいに取り組とりくむこと。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

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