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A1 noun #3,559 most common 8 min read

抗争

kōsō Top 3,559

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 抗争 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 抗争 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that '抗争' (kousou) means a very big fight between groups. Think of it like a movie where two teams are fighting for a long time. You don't use this word for small fights with your friends. You use it when you see a news story about big groups like gangs or political parties fighting. It is a noun, so you say 'kousou is happening.' It sounds very serious. If you are playing a game and two groups are fighting for land, that is a 'kousou'. It is a hard word, but good to know for stories.

For A2 learners, '抗争' is a word you will see in newspapers or anime. It describes a 'struggle' or 'conflict' between organizations. The key is that it's between groups (like factions or gangs), not individuals. You might see the phrase '派閥抗争' (habatsu kousou) which means a fight between groups inside a political party. It often involves power. When you use it, you can say '抗争が起きた' (a struggle happened) or '抗争が続いている' (a struggle is continuing). It implies the fight is not finished quickly and might be violent or very angry.

At the B1 level, you should understand that '抗争' implies a systemic or structural conflict. It's often translated as 'feud' or 'strife.' It is commonly used in business (internal corporate struggles) and crime reporting (gang wars). Unlike '競争' (competition), which can be positive, '抗争' is always negative and destructive. You should recognize collocations like '権力抗争' (power struggle) and '内部抗争' (internal strife). It suggests a prolonged period of resistance where two sides are trying to gain dominance through force or strategy.

At B2, you should be able to distinguish '抗争' from similar words like '闘争' (tousou - often ideological) and '紛争' (funsou - often regional/international). '抗争' specifically highlights the 'resistance' (抗) and 'clash' (争) aspect. It is frequently used in historical contexts (e.g., Sengoku period) and political analysis. You should be comfortable using it in formal writing to describe serious organizational friction. It carries a nuance of a 'zero-sum game' where one side's gain is the other's loss, often leading to a '泥沼' (doronuma - quagmire) situation.

For C1 learners, '抗争' is a precise term for analyzing power dynamics within institutions. It describes the tactical and strategic maneuvers of factions competing for hegemony. In literature or high-level journalism, it might describe a 'war of attrition' between established powers. You should understand its use in legal contexts, such as 'labor-management struggles' (労使抗争), and be able to nuance your speech by using it to describe complex socio-political phenomena. It implies a state of affairs where standard conflict resolution has failed, and power is the only remaining currency.

At the C2 level, you possess a deep understanding of the sociolinguistic weight of '抗争'. You recognize it as a term that frames a conflict as an existential or organizational battle. You can use it metaphorically or in highly specialized academic discourse regarding political science, sociology, or history. You understand how the word is used to frame narratives in the media—for instance, how labeling a conflict as an '抗争' can delegitimize the participants by framing them as mere 'warring factions' rather than political actors. You are also aware of its historical connotations in Japanese history.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

抗争 in 30 Seconds

抗争 (kousou) refers to a serious, often long-lasting struggle between organized groups like gangs, factions, or corporate departments over power or territory.
It is a formal noun used in news, history, and crime fiction to describe institutionalized conflict rather than personal arguments between individuals.
Common contexts include political factionalism (派閥抗争), organized crime wars (暴力団抗争), and internal corporate infighting (内部抗争) for dominance.
Unlike 'competition,' which can be healthy, 'kousou' is inherently destructive, suggesting a breakdown of harmony and a shift toward active hostility.

The Japanese word 抗争 (こうそう - kousou) is a heavy-duty noun that describes a serious, often violent or deeply entrenched struggle between two or more opposing groups. Unlike a simple argument or a brief fight, an 抗争 implies a structural or organizational level of conflict. It is most frequently encountered in contexts involving political factions, labor unions, corporate takeovers, or, perhaps most famously in popular media, the internal and external wars of organized crime groups like the Yakuza.

Etymological Breakdown: The first character 抗 means 'to resist' or 'to oppose,' while the second character 争 means 'to struggle' or 'to contend.' Together, they form a word that suggests a resistance-based struggle where neither side is willing to back down.
Social Context: In Japanese society, harmony (wa) is highly valued. Therefore, an 抗争 represents a significant breakdown of that harmony. It suggests that the conflict has reached a point where formal negotiation has failed, and the parties are now engaged in a proactive attempt to overpower one another.

その二つの派閥は、長年にわたって激しい抗争を続けている。
(Those two factions have been continuing a fierce struggle for many years.)

When you hear this word on the news, it often carries a sense of danger or high stakes. It is not a word used lightly in daily conversation. If you use it to describe a minor disagreement, it might sound melodramatic or sarcastic. For example, describing a fight over who washes the dishes as an 抗争 would be a form of hyperbole. In professional settings, it refers to power struggles (権力抗争 - kenryoku kousou) where individuals or groups vie for control of a company or political entity. The nuance of 'prolonged' is key; an 抗争 is rarely a one-off event; it is a series of events in a larger battle for supremacy.

党内の抗争が激化し、ついに離党者が出た。
(The internal party struggle intensified, and finally, members began to leave the party.)

Visual Imagery: Imagine two massive walls pushing against each other. Neither wall moves easily, and the pressure builds up until something cracks. That pressure and the resulting cracks are the essence of 抗争.

To use 抗争 correctly, you must understand its grammatical role as a noun. It is frequently paired with verbs that indicate beginning, continuing, or intensifying. The most common verb pairings include 起こる (to occur), 続く (to continue), 激化する (to intensify), and 終結する (to end).

Common Verb Pairings: 1. 抗争が起きる (A struggle breaks out)
2. 抗争を繰り広げる (To engage in a struggle)
3. 抗争に巻き込まれる (To be caught up in a struggle)

マフィア同士の抗争で、街の治安が悪化した。
(Due to the struggle between mafia groups, the city's public safety deteriorated.)

When specifying who is involved in the struggle, the particle ～間の (between) or ～をめぐる (concerning/over) is often used. For instance, 「権力をめぐる抗争」 means 'a struggle over power.' This construction is vital for news reporting and formal writing. Note that 抗争 is almost always negative; it is not used for a 'healthy competition' (which would be kyousou 競争).

後継者の座をめぐって、激しい親族間の抗争が始まった。
(A fierce struggle among relatives began over the position of the successor.)

Adjective Modifiers: Common adjectives used with 抗争 include: 激しい (fierce), 血塗られた (bloody), 泥沼の (quagmire-like/endless), and 不毛な (fruitless).

In a business context, you might see 「内部抗争」 (naibu kousou), which refers to internal strife or infighting within a company. This is a common theme in Japanese corporate dramas (like 'Hanzawa Naoki'). It implies that different departments or executives are trying to sabotage each other to gain more influence. Using the word in this context highlights the severity and the 'war-like' nature of the corporate environment.

社長の椅子を狙う役員たちの抗争は、社員に大きな影響を与えた。
(The struggle among executives aiming for the president's chair had a major impact on the employees.)

You are most likely to encounter 抗争 in the media. Japanese news programs use it specifically when reporting on organized crime (yakuza) activities. When two crime syndicates are fighting over territory, the news will call it a 「暴力団の抗争」 (bouryokudan no kousou). This specific usage has solidified the word's image in the public mind as something dangerous and illegal.

News Media: Reporters use 'kousou' to maintain a level of objective distance while describing violent events. It sounds more clinical and structural than 'kenka' (fight) or 'tatakai' (battle).

警察は、今回の事件を組織間の抗争と見て捜査を進めている。
(The police are proceeding with the investigation, viewing this incident as a struggle between organizations.)

Another major arena for this word is politics. In the Japanese Diet (Parliament), factionalism is a significant part of how the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) operates. When factions fight over who will become the next Prime Minister, it is described as a 「派閥抗争」 (habatsu kousou). This is a staple of political commentary and newspaper editorials. Understanding this word is essential for anyone wanting to follow Japanese domestic politics.

Historical documentaries and dramas (Jidaigeki) also use 抗争 to describe the warring periods of Japan's past. The struggles between the Taira and Minamoto clans, or the various daimyo during the Sengoku period, are often characterized as long-term 抗争. This historical weight gives the word a sense of gravity and significance that transcends modern crime or politics.

戦国時代、各地の武将たちが領土を奪い合う抗争を繰り広げた。
(During the Sengoku period, warlords in various regions engaged in struggles to seize each other's territories.)

Academic and Legal Contexts: In law, 'kousou' might be used to describe labor disputes that have escalated into physical or legal standoffs between unions and management. It implies a state of active hostility.

The most common mistake learners make with 抗争 is using it for small-scale or individual conflicts. Because 'struggle' or 'conflict' are common English translations, a student might say 'I had an 抗争 with my teacher,' which would be incorrect and quite confusing to a native speaker. 抗争 requires a group dynamic.

Mistake 1: Individual vs. Group: Incorrect: 友達と抗争した (I had a 'kousou' with my friend).
Correct: 友達と喧嘩した (I had a fight with my friend).

Don't use 抗争 for personal arguments.

Another mistake is confusing 抗争 with 競争 (kyousou). While they sound slightly similar and both involve 'struggle' in a sense, kyousou is 'competition' (like a race or business competition), which can be healthy and positive. 抗争 is almost always destructive and hostile. If you say a company is in an 抗争 with another, you are implying they are trying to destroy each other, whereas 競争 implies they are just trying to sell more products.

Learners also sometimes confuse it with 紛争 (funsou). While funsou also means 'dispute' or 'conflict,' it is often used for international or regional territorial disputes (like the Middle East conflict). 抗争 is more likely to be used for internal group struggles or gang wars. Funsou is often more formal and diplomatic, whereas 抗争 can imply physical violence or 'dirty' tactics.

Mistake 2: Confusing with War (Sensou): While 'kousou' can be violent, it is not a full-scale 'war' (戦争) between nations. It is a conflict within a society or between specific smaller entities.

Incorrect: 日本とアメリカの抗争 (The 'kousou' between Japan and America).
Correct: 日本とアメリカの戦争 (The war between Japan and America).

Japanese has many words for 'conflict,' and choosing the right one depends on the scale and the nature of the fight. Here is how 抗争 compares to its synonyms.

抗争 (Kousou) vs. 闘争 (Tousou): 闘争 (Tousou) is often used for social or class struggles (e.g., class struggle - 階級闘争). It has a more 'ideological' or 'struggle for a cause' nuance. 抗争 is more about power and territory.
抗争 (Kousou) vs. 紛争 (Funsou): 紛争 (Funsou) is typically used for disputes that might be settled through arbitration or international law. 抗争 implies a more active, ongoing, and often violent clash.
抗争 (Kousou) vs. 対立 (Tairitsu): 対立 (Tairitsu) simply means 'opposition' or 'confrontation.' It doesn't necessarily imply a fight, just that two sides hold opposite views. 抗争 is the action that results from that opposition.

意見の対立が、やがて激しい抗争に発展した。
(The opposition of opinions eventually developed into a fierce struggle.)

If you want to describe a simple 'fight' or 'quarrel' between people, use 喧嘩 (kenka). If you want to describe a 'battle' in a war, use 戦闘 (sentou). If you are talking about a 'clash' of cultures or values, 摩擦 (masatsu - friction) is often more appropriate. 抗争 remains the go-to word for organized, factional, and structural conflict.

Comparative Example:
1. 兄弟の喧嘩 (Brothers' quarrel)
2. 会社の競争 (Companies' competition)
3. 派閥の抗争 (Factions' struggle)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

While 'kousou' sounds like it could be 'construction' (構想), the characters are completely different. One is for building things, and this one is for tearing things down!

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈkoʊ.soʊ/

US /ˈkoʊ.soʊ/

Japanese is pitch-accented. In 'kousou', the pitch is typically 'Low-High-High-High' (Heiban style), meaning it stays relatively flat after the first syllable.

Rhymes With

暴走 (bousou - running wild) 放送 (housou - broadcast) 構想 (kousou - plan/concept) 輸送 (yusou - transport) 空想 (kuusou - fantasy) 幻想 (gensou - illusion) 瞑想 (meisou - meditation) 演奏 (ensou - musical performance)

Common Errors

Pronouncing it as 'ko-so' with short vowels.
Confusing the pitch with 'kousou' (structure/construction), which has a different pitch pattern.
Stressing the second syllable too hard like an English word.
Adding a 'w' sound at the end of 'kou'.
Failing to sustain the long vowels for two beats each.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 4/5

The Kanji are N2 level, but the word is common in media.

Writing 4/5

Writing '抗' and '争' correctly requires practice with stroke order.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation is easy, but using it in the right context is tricky.

Listening 3/5

Easy to hear, but don't confuse it with 'kousou' (plan).

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

争う (arasou) 抵抗 (teikou) 対立 (tairitsu) 組織 (soshiki) 激しい (hageshii)

Learn Next

妥協 (dakyou) 和解 (wakai) 統制 (tousei) 覇権 (haken) 凄惨 (seisan)

Advanced

群雄割拠 (gunyuu kakkyo) 離合集散 (rigou shuusan) 下克上 (gekokujou)

Grammar to Know

Noun + をめぐる (Regarding/Over)

権力をめぐる抗争 (A struggle over power)

Noun + にわたって (Spanning over)

長年にわたる抗争 (A struggle spanning many years)

Noun + の末に (After/At the end of)

抗争の末に和解した (Reconciled after a struggle)

Noun + に伴い (Along with/As a result of)

抗争の激化に伴い (Along with the intensification of the struggle)

Passive voice with 巻き込まれる (To be caught up in)

抗争に巻き込まれる (To be caught up in a struggle)

Examples by Level

グループの間で抗争がありました。

There was a struggle between the groups.

Uses 'ga arimashita' to indicate existence of the event.

これは大きな抗争です。

This is a big struggle.

Simple A wa B desu structure.

抗争は怖いです。

Struggles are scary.

Adjective 'kowai' describing the noun.

二つのチームの抗争です。

It is a struggle between two teams.

Possessive 'no' connecting the teams to the struggle.

テレビで抗争を見ました。

I saw a struggle on TV.

Direct object 'o' with the verb 'mimashita'.

抗争はやめてください。

Please stop the struggle.

Request form 'yamete kudasai'.

古い抗争の話を聞きました。

I heard a story about an old struggle.

Adjective 'furui' modifying 'kousou'.

抗争が始まりました。

The struggle has started.

Subject 'ga' with intransitive verb 'hajimarimashita'.

マフィアの抗争が激しくなりました。

The mafia struggle became intense.

Adverbial form 'hageshiku' with 'narimashita'.

政治家たちの抗争は終わりません。

The struggle between politicians does not end.

Negative verb 'owarimasen'.

彼は抗争に巻き込まれました。

He was caught up in the struggle.

Passive voice 'makikomareta'.

派閥の抗争で、リーダーが変わりました。

Due to a factional struggle, the leader changed.

Particle 'de' indicating cause or reason.

この町では昔、抗争がありました。

In this town, there was a struggle long ago.

Locative 'de' and time 'mukashi'.

抗争の原因は何ですか？

What is the cause of the struggle?

Noun 'gen'in' (cause) with 'no'.

二つの組織は抗争を続けています。

The two organizations are continuing the struggle.

Continuous form 'tsuzukete imasu'.

抗争を止めるのは難しいです。

Stopping the struggle is difficult.

Nominalized verb 'tomeru no'.

権力抗争の末に、彼は失脚した。

After a power struggle, he fell from power.

Phrase 'no sue ni' meaning 'after much...'

内部抗争が原因で、会社は倒産した。

Due to internal strife, the company went bankrupt.

Compound noun 'naibu kousou'.

警察は暴力団の抗争を厳しく取り締まっている。

The police are strictly cracking down on gang struggles.

Verb 'torishimaru' (to crack down).

土地の所有権をめぐる抗争が続いている。

The struggle over land ownership rights continues.

Phrase 'o meguru' (concerning/over).

抗争が激化し、多くの負傷者が出た。

The struggle intensified, and many injured people appeared.

Verb 'gekika suru' (to intensify).

不毛な抗争に終止符を打つべきだ。

We should put an end to this fruitless struggle.

Idiom 'shuushifu o utsu' (to put a period/end to).

彼女は派閥抗争から距離を置いている。

She is keeping her distance from the factional struggle.

Phrase 'kyori o oku' (to keep distance).

その抗争は数十年間にわたって行われた。

That struggle was carried out over several decades.

Phrase 'ni watatte' (spanning over).

激しい主導権抗争が党内で繰り広げられた。

A fierce struggle for leadership was unfolded within the party.

Verb 'kurihirogeru' (to unfold/conduct).

泥沼の抗争によって、地域経済は疲弊した。

Due to the quagmire-like struggle, the local economy was exhausted.

Metaphor 'doronuma' (muddy swamp/quagmire).

抗争の激化に伴い、市民の不安が高まっている。

Along with the intensification of the struggle, citizens' anxiety is rising.

Grammar 'ni tomonai' (along with).

長年の抗争も、ようやく和解に至った。

The long-standing struggle finally reached a reconciliation.

Phrase 'wakai ni itaru' (reach a reconciliation).

組織内の抗争を鎮めるために、第三者が介入した。

A third party intervened to quiet the struggle within the organization.

Verb 'shizumeru' (to calm/quiet).

抗争の火種は、些細な誤解だった。

The spark of the struggle was a trivial misunderstanding.

Metaphor 'hidane' (source of fire/spark).

宗教間の抗争は、歴史上繰り返されてきた。

Struggles between religions have been repeated throughout history.

Passive 'kurikaesarete kita'.

抗争の結果、グループは二つに分裂した。

As a result of the struggle, the group split into two.

Verb 'bunretsu suru' (to split).

イデオロギーの対立が、やがて武力抗争へと発展した。

The ideological confrontation eventually developed into an armed struggle.

Compound 'buryoku kousou' (armed struggle).

その映画は、裏社会の凄惨な抗争をリアルに描いている。

That movie realistically depicts the gruesome struggles of the underworld.

Adjective 'seisan' (gruesome/ghastly).

覇権をめぐる抗争は、とどまるところを知らない。

The struggle for hegemony knows no bounds.

Idiom 'todomaru tokoro o shiranai' (knows no end).

彼らの抗争は、単なる利益争いを超えた報復の連鎖である。

Their struggle is a chain of retaliation that goes beyond a mere dispute over interests.

Noun 'houfuku' (retaliation).

国家間の経済抗争が、グローバル市場に影を落としている。

Economic struggles between nations are casting a shadow over the global market.

Idiom 'kage o otosu' (cast a shadow).

抗争の裏で、巧妙な政治的駆け引きが行われていた。

Behind the struggle, clever political maneuvering was taking place.

Noun 'kakehiki' (maneuvering/bargaining).

労使抗争の長期化により、生産ラインがストップした。

Due to the prolongation of the labor-management struggle, the production line stopped.

Compound 'roushi kousou' (labor-management struggle).

抗争の当事者たちは、妥協の余地がないことを強調した。

The parties to the struggle emphasized that there was no room for compromise.

Phrase 'dakyou no yochi' (room for compromise).

権力構造の変遷に伴い、潜在的な抗争が表面化した。

With the transition of the power structure, latent struggles surfaced.

Adjective 'senzaiteki' (latent/potential).

その論文は、近世における村落間の水利抗争を分析している。

The paper analyzes water-use struggles between villages in the early modern period.

Compound 'suiri kousou' (water rights struggle).

党内抗争の激化は、政権基盤の脆弱化を露呈させた。

The intensification of intra-party struggles exposed the weakening of the administration's foundation.

Noun 'zeijakuka' (weakening).

抗争の終結は、新たな秩序の構築を意味していた。

The end of the struggle signified the construction of a new order.

Noun 'kochiku' (construction/building).

民族間の根深い抗争を解決するには、多大な時間を要する。

To resolve deep-seated struggles between ethnic groups requires a vast amount of time.

Adjective 'nebukai' (deep-seated).

彼は抗争の調停役として、卓越した手腕を発揮した。

As a mediator of the struggle, he demonstrated outstanding skill.

Noun 'chouteiyaku' (mediator/arbitrator).

抗争のレトリックが、大衆のナショナリズムを煽った。

The rhetoric of struggle fanned the nationalism of the masses.

Verb 'aoru' (to fan/instigate).

学問的パラダイムの抗争が、新たな理論の誕生を促した。

The struggle between academic paradigms prompted the birth of new theories.

Noun 'paradaimu' (paradigm).

Synonyms

紛争闘争対立争い内紛反目

Antonyms

和解平和協調

Common Collocations

抗争が勃発する

泥沼の抗争

権力抗争

派閥抗争

内部抗争

抗争を繰り広げる

抗争に巻き込まれる

血塗られた抗争

抗争が終結する

抗争の火種

Common Phrases

仁義なき抗争

— A struggle without honor or rules. Often references the famous movie title 'Battles Without Honor and Humanity'.

まさに仁義なき抗争だ。

骨肉の抗争

— A struggle between blood relatives (lit. bone and flesh).

遺産をめぐる骨肉の抗争。

不毛な抗争

— A fruitless or pointless struggle that achieves nothing.

不毛な抗争はもうやめよう。

全面抗争

— An all-out struggle or total war between factions.

両グループは全面抗争に突入した。

代理抗争

— A proxy struggle where smaller groups fight on behalf of larger ones.

これは大国間の代理抗争だ。

暗闘

— A secret or hidden struggle (similar to internal kousou but more secretive).

水面下での暗闘が続いている。

勢力争い

— A struggle for power or influence (softer version of kousou).

業界内の勢力争いが激しい。

縄張り争い

— A turf war or struggle over territory.

野良猫たちの縄張り争い。

主導権争い

— A struggle for initiative or leadership.

会議での主導権争い。

生き残り抗争

— A struggle for survival in a competitive environment.

業界の生き残り抗争が始まった。

Often Confused With

抗争 vs 競争 (Kyousou)

Kyousou is healthy competition; Kousou is a destructive struggle.

抗争 vs 構想 (Kousou)

Kousou (same sound) means a plan or vision; completely different kanji.

抗争 vs 校葬 (Kousou)

Kousou (same sound) means a school funeral; very rare word.

Idioms & Expressions

"泥沼化する"

— To become bogged down like a swamp. Used when a struggle becomes endless and messy.

抗争が泥沼化している。

Neutral

"火に油を注ぐ"

— To pour oil on the fire. To make a struggle worse.

彼の発言が抗争に火に油を注いだ。

Informal

"矛先を向ける"

— To point the spearhead at someone. To target someone in a struggle.

彼は批判の矛先をライバルに向けた。

Neutral

"鎬を削る"

— To clash swords. To compete fiercely (often used in business kousou).

二社は市場で鎬を削っている。

Formal

"足を引っ張り合う"

— To pull each other's legs. To sabotage each other in an internal struggle.

社内で足を引っ張り合っていては勝てない。

Informal

"一矢報いる"

— To shoot back a single arrow. To strike a blow in retaliation during a struggle.

負けが決まったが、一矢報いたい。

Neutral

"草の根を分ける"

— To search everywhere (often used to find enemies in a kousou).

草の根を分けても犯人を探し出す。

Neutral

"雌雄を決する"

— To decide who is the male and who is the female (fig: to decide the winner).

ついに雌雄を決する時が来た。

Literary

"暗雲が立ち込める"

— Dark clouds gather. Used when a struggle is about to break out.

組織に抗争の暗雲が立ち込めている。

Literary

"血で血を洗う"

— To wash blood with blood. A very violent and retaliatory struggle.

血で血を洗う抗争が幕を開けた。

Literary

Easily Confused

抗争 vs 闘争 (Tousou)

Both mean 'struggle'.

Tousou is often positive or ideological (e.g., fighting for rights). Kousou is usually negative and territorial.

自由のための闘争 (Struggle for freedom) vs 権力抗争 (Power struggle).

抗争 vs 紛争 (Funsou)

Both involve conflict.

Funsou is often international or regional (territory). Kousou is more about internal group rivalry.

中東紛争 (Middle East conflict) vs 派閥抗争 (Factional struggle).

抗争 vs 戦闘 (Sentou)

Both involve fighting.

Sentou is a specific 'battle' or 'combat' event. Kousou is the overall state of 'struggle'.

激しい戦闘 (Fierce battle) vs 長年の抗争 (Long-term struggle).

抗争 vs 喧嘩 (Kenka)

Both mean 'fight'.

Kenka is personal and small-scale. Kousou is organizational and large-scale.

口喧嘩 (Verbal fight) vs 暴力団の抗争 (Gang struggle).

抗争 vs 対立 (Tairitsu)

Both show opposition.

Tairitsu is just the 'state' of being opposite. Kousou is the 'action' of the struggle.

意見の対立 (Opposition of opinions) vs 派閥間の抗争 (Struggle between factions).

Sentence Patterns

AとBの抗争

赤チームと青チームの抗争。

～をめぐる抗争

お金をめぐる抗争。

抗争が激化する

二つの派閥の抗争が激化した。

抗争に巻き込まれる

彼は不運にも抗争に巻き込まれた。

泥沼の抗争

彼らは泥沼の抗争を続けている。

抗争に終止符を打つ

ついにその抗争に終止符を打った。

抗争の火種となる

その一言が抗争の火種となった。

潜在的な抗争

潜在的な抗争が表面化した。

Word Family

Nouns

抗争 (kousou - struggle)

抵抗 (teikou - resistance)

対抗 (taikou - opposition)

紛争 (funsou - dispute)

闘争 (tousou - struggle/fight)

Verbs

抗争する (kousou suru - to struggle/feud)

抗う (aragau - to resist/oppose)

争う (arasou - to fight/compete)

Adjectives

抗争的な (kousouteki na - combative/struggle-oriented)

暴力団 (bouryokudan - yakuza)

派閥 (habatsu - faction)

権力 (kenryoku - power)

内紛 (naifun - internal strife)

報復 (houfuku - retaliation)

How to Use It

frequency

Common in news, crime fiction, and history; rare in daily casual talk.

Common Mistakes

Using it for a small argument. → 喧嘩 (kenka)
抗争 is for large, organized groups, not two friends arguing.
Confusing it with 競争 (competition). → 競争 (kyousou)
Don't use kousou for a friendly business race; use kyousou.
Mispronouncing the long vowels. → Kousou (long)
Shortening the vowels changes the meaning or makes it unintelligible.
Using it for an international war. → 戦争 (sensou)
Kousou is usually intra-societal (factions, gangs), not between nations.
Writing the wrong 'Kou' kanji. → 抗争
There are many 'Kou' kanji (like 構, 講, 交). Make sure to use 抗.

Tips

Use with 'Meguru'

Always use '～をめぐる抗争' to describe what the fight is about. It makes you sound very natural.

Pair with 'Gekika'

If a fight is getting worse, say '抗争が激化した' (kousou ga gekika shita). It's a classic news phrase.

Watch Crime Dramas

Watch Japanese crime dramas to hear how characters use this word to describe their rivalries.

Long Vowels Matter

Make sure you hear 'Kou-sou' (long) not 'Ko-so' (short). Short 'koso' means 'precisely' or 'indeed'.

Kanji Radicals

The hand radical in 抗 (扌) shows that the resistance involves action.

Avoid for Individuals

Never use kousou for a 1-on-1 fight. It's the most common mistake for learners.

Business Context

In business, use it to describe 'infighting' between departments for a sophisticated tone.

Kou = Counter

Think of 'Kou' as 'Counter' (resistance) and 'Sou' as 'Sword' (struggle).

Check Headlines

Scan the 'Politics' or 'Society' section of Japanese news sites to see this word in action.

Tone of Voice

Say it with a serious, low tone. It's not a 'happy' word.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a 'COUP' (sounds like Kou) that leads to 'SORROW' (sounds like Sou). A struggle always brings sorrow to someone.

Visual Association

Visualize two sumo wrestlers pushing against each other with full force, but instead of a ring, they are in a boardroom or a dark alley.

Word Web

Yakuza Politics Factions Violence Resistance Power Feud News

Challenge

Try to find one news headline today from a Japanese site like NHK or Yahoo Japan that uses the word '抗争'. It's easier than you think!

Word Origin

Composed of two Kanji: 抗 (to resist/oppose) and 争 (to struggle/contend). It entered the Japanese lexicon from Classical Chinese, where it referred to opposing forces in conflict.

Original meaning: To stand against and fight; to contend with resistance.

Sino-Japanese (Kango).

Cultural Context

Be careful using this word in casual settings; it carries a heavy, sometimes criminal connotation.

Commonly translated as 'feud' (like the Hatfields and McCoys) or 'power struggle' in business contexts.

Jingi Naki Tatakai (Movie series) Yakuza / Like a Dragon (Video game series) Hanzawa Naoki (TV drama involving corporate naibu kousou)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

News Reporting

抗争が勃発した
抗争の激化
抗争の終結
抗争の背景

Political Analysis

派閥抗争
権力抗争
主導権抗争
内部抗争

Historical Drama

領土をめぐる抗争
骨肉の抗争
血塗られた抗争
抗争の末に

Business/Corporate

社内抗争
生き残り抗争
経営権をめぐる抗争
不毛な抗争

Organized Crime Fiction

全面抗争
代理抗争
抗争に巻き込まれる
抗争の火種

Conversation Starters

"最近、あの政党の内部抗争がすごいね。どう思う？ (The internal struggle of that party is crazy lately. What do you think?)"

"ヤクザ映画でよく「抗争」って言葉を聞くけど、実際はどんな感じなんだろう。 (I often hear 'kousou' in yakuza movies, but I wonder what it's like in reality.)"

"歴史の授業で、武士たちの抗争について学んだことがありますか？ (Have you ever learned about the struggles between samurai in history class?)"

"会社の中で抗争に巻き込まれたら、どうやって逃げる？ (If you got caught in a corporate struggle, how would you escape?)"

"「抗争」と「競争」の違い、英語で説明できる？ (Can you explain the difference between 'kousou' and 'kyousou' in English?)"

Journal Prompts

もし自分が大きな組織のリーダーだったら、内部抗争をどうやって防ぎますか？ (If you were the leader of a large organization, how would you prevent internal strife?)

あなたが今まで見た映画や読んだ本の中で、一番印象的だった「抗争」は何ですか？ (What is the most memorable 'struggle' from a movie you've seen or a book you've read?)

「不毛な抗争」を避けるために、私たちは社会で何をすべきだと思いますか？ (What do you think we should do in society to avoid 'fruitless struggles'?)

競争（きょうそう）と抗争（こうそう）の境目はどこにあると思いますか？ (Where do you think the line is between competition and struggle?)

歴史上の有名な抗争を一つ選び、その原因と結果について書いてください。 (Choose one famous historical struggle and write about its cause and effect.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, that would sound very strange. Use 喧嘩 (kenka) instead. 抗争 is for groups like gangs or political parties.

Not always. In politics (派閥抗争) or business (内部抗争), it might involve words, strategy, and backstabbing rather than physical violence.

競争 (kyousou) is competition, like in a race or market. It's often good. 抗争 (kousou) is a hostile struggle where groups try to hurt or overcome each other.

It is written as 抗 (resist) and 争 (struggle). The first has a 'hand' radical on the left.

Yes, especially in anime about gangs (like Tokyo Revengers) or historical wars (like Kingdom).

It means a struggle between factions within a larger group, usually a political party.

Yes, you can say 抗争する (kousou suru), but it is more common to use it as a noun.

It means a conflict that has become messy, endless, and impossible to resolve easily, like being stuck in a swamp.

Almost never. It implies discord and trouble. For positive struggle, use words like 努力 (doryoku - effort) or 挑戦 (chousen - challenge).

Usually, yes. It suggests a feud that lasts weeks, months, or even years.