dau3 zang1鬥爭斗争

Jyutpingdau3 zang1

Yaledau jāng

動詞Uncommon

Definition

To struggle, conflict, or fight against.

to struggle internally; to suffer an inner conflict
to conflict, fight against, or strive with each other

colloquialemotiondaily actions

How it's used

While 鬥爭 can mean a political or physical fight in formal contexts, in daily Cantonese it is most frequently used to describe an internal psychological conflict. It captures the feeling of being torn between two choices or battling one's own conscience. It is often used with 內心 to emphasize that the conflict is happening inside one's mind.

Measure word

coeng4場chèungh

Examples

keoi5佢sam1心jap6入min6面dau3鬥zang1爭zo2咗hou2好noi6耐，zeoi3最hau6後dou1都hai6係fong3放hei3棄zo2咗。

He struggled internally for a long time, and eventually gave up.

nei5你sai2使mat1乜gam3咁dau3鬥zang1爭aa4呀，zung1鍾ji3意zau6就maai5買laa1啦。

Why are you struggling so much with this decision? Just buy it if you like it.

Common phrases

noi6內sam1心dau3鬥zang1爭

internal struggle

gik1激lit6烈dau3鬥zang1爭

intense struggle

Common mistake

Avoid using this word to mean physical fighting or general arguing, as it sounds overly dramatic or political in those contexts. For physical fights, use 打交, and for verbal arguments, use 嗌交.