Usage of 争夺
The verb 争夺 (zhēngduó) means "to fight over" or "to compete fiercely for something." It often implies a struggle or contest where two or more parties try to take possession or control of something valuable.
Common contexts
You will frequently see 争夺 used in business (争夺合同), politics (争夺选票), or everyday situations like children fighting over toys (争夺玩具). It conveys a sense of active competition or conflict.
Collocations and patterns
- 争夺 + 资源/合同/市场: to compete for resources/contracts/market
- 争夺 + 支持/选票: to compete for support/votes
- 争夺 + 名次/冠军: to compete for ranking/championship
Nuance and register
争夺 is more intense than simply "competing"; it suggests a struggle or fight, sometimes physical or aggressive. It is neutral in formality and can be used in both spoken and written Chinese.
Common confusion
Do not confuse 争夺 with 竞争 (jìngzhēng), which means "to compete" but is more neutral and less aggressive. 争夺 emphasizes the act of seizing or grabbing, often with force or urgency.