戰爭 / 战争
zhànzhēng
The English word 'war' can be translated into Chinese using several forms, such as 戰爭 / 战争 (zhànzhēng). If unsure, use 戰爭 / 战争. Wiktionary also lists 仗 (zhàng).
Meaning: conflict involving organized use of arms (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 戰爭 / 战争 | zhànzhēng | ||
| 仗 | zhàng | /ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /t͡saŋ²¹³/ (Mandarin, Chengdu, Sinological IPA) |
|
| 戰爭 / 战争 | chiàn-chng, chiàn-cheng | Hokkien |
The term refers to a conflict involving the organized use of arms. The noun 仗 is most commonly used in the colloquial verb-object construction 打仗, which means 'to fight a war' or 'to engage in combat'. Other related verb forms for engaging in conflict include 作戰 / 作战, 交兵 and 開戰 / 开战.
Which one should you use?
While 打仗 is a common way to describe the act of fighting, 戰爭 / 战争 is the formal noun used for the concept of 'war' in academic, journalistic or official contexts. For a more specific term describing a military campaign or battle, use 战役 (zhànyì).
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form җон is used in Dungan. The form 戰爭 / 战争 is used in Hokkien.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation for 戰爭 / 战争 is zhànzhēng.
Did you know?
- The Dungan language uses the form җон for 'war'. This represents a fascinating linguistic blend where Chinese vocabulary is written using a modified Cyrillic alphabet.
- The character 仗 originally referred to a 'staff' or 'cane' used for support, much like a walking stick.
- Using the phrase 開戰 (to start a war) is common in video games and sports, such as when a match is officially beginning.
Examples in context
- 我們在跟日本打仗。We're at war with Japan.This sentence uses 仗 to show being at war with a specific country.Tatoeba #6624700 by verdastelo9604, translation #3725429 by CM
- 很多年輕人去了打仗。Many young men went to war.This sentence uses 仗 to describe young men going to war.Tatoeba #346940 by nickyeow, translation #274864 by Swift
- 打仗To fight a battle, to go to warThis sentence uses 仗 to translate the phrase 'to fight a battle' or 'to go to war'.
- 两国进行了一场持久的战争，给该地区带来了重大影响。The two countries engaged in a long-lasting war that had a significant impact on the region.
- 这两个国家已经连续十多年交战。The two nations have been continuously engaged in war for over a decade.
- 历史记录提到了越南战争期间进行的几次著名战役。The historical records mention several famous battles fought during the Vietnam War.
- 全世界团结一致反对中东战争。The world stood united against the war in the Middle East.
- 在他们的电子游戏中，玩家扮演士兵参与各种战争。In their video game, players take on the role of soldiers and fight in various wars.
- 老一辈人仍然记得在第二次世界大战期间所经历的艰辛。The older generations still remember the hardships endured throughout World War II.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “war” translations and entries 仗, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 仗, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
