戦争（せんそう、sensou）
- war

The Japanese word 戦争, read as せんそう (sensō), primarily means "war" or "warfare" in English. It refers to a state of armed conflict between different countries, groups, or societies. It can also describe a prolonged struggle or conflict in a figurative sense. 戦争 encompasses all aspects of armed conflict, including battles, campaigns, and the political and social conditions surrounding the fighting.

⚫︎戦争が始まった。 Translation: The war began. ⚫︎あの映画は戦争について描いている。 Translation: That movie is about war. ⚫︎経済戦争 Translation: Economic war. (Figurative meaning)

You can use 戦争 in conversations about historical events, current affairs, military strategy, or discussions about conflict in general. When discussing a specific war, it's common to add further details, such as the name of the conflict (e.g., 第二次世界戦争 - The Second World War), or the location. It is crucial to remember the serious nature of the word as it relates to destruction and human lives.

戦争 is typically written in kanji. The hiragana reading せんそう is used when furigana (pronunciation guides) are needed for learners or to indicate the reading of the kanji. There are no variations in okurigana for this word.

⚫︎戦い (tatakai) - fight, battle ⚫︎戦闘 (sentō) - combat, battle ⚫︎紛争 (funsō) - dispute, conflict ⚫︎交戦 (kōsen) - engagement in war

⚫︎平和 (heiwa) - peace ⚫︎和平 (wahei) - peace treaty

彼は戦争の悲惨さを語った。 ・Translation: He spoke of the horrors of war. ・Explanation: This sentence describes someone sharing their experience or knowledge about the devastating nature of 戦争.

世界は戦争を回避するために努力している。 ・Translation: The world is striving to avoid war. ・Explanation: This sentence discusses the efforts of countries to prevent future 戦争.

The kanji for 戦争 are 戦 (sen), meaning "war," "battle," or "fight," and 争 (sō), meaning "strife," "contention," or "conflict." Together, the characters denote a state of armed conflict and struggle. The word's origins reflect the inherent meaning of the act of 戦争 itself: engaging in a physical or ideological conflict with a competitor.