激戦(げきせん)

げきせん
noun
fierce battle, close contest
1. fierce battle, intense combat
A violent or intense military battle.
その島(しま)では激戦(げきせん)が繰(く)り広(ひろ)げられた。
A fierce battle was waged on that island.
激戦(げきせん)の末(すえ)、多(おお)くの兵士(へいし)が命(いのち)を落(お)とした。
After fierce fighting, many soldiers lost their lives.
この地域(ちいき)は第二次世界大戦(だいにじせかいたいせん)の激戦(げきせん)地(ち)として知(し)られている。
This area is known as a fierce battleground of World War II.
2. close contest, fierce competition
A highly competitive contest where the outcome is uncertain, used for elections, sports, business competition, and other non-military contexts.
決勝(けっしょう)は激戦(げきせん)だった。
The final was a fierce contest.
選挙(せんきょ)は激戦(げきせん)が予想(よそう)されている。
A close contest is expected in the election.
激戦(げきせん)の末(すえ)、ホームチームが逆転(ぎゃくてん)勝利(しょうり)を収(おさ)めた。
After a fierce contest, the home team pulled off a come-from-behind victory.

USAGE:
The figurative sense (close competition) is very common in modern Japanese, especially in news reporting about elections and sports. The expression 激戦(げきせん)区(く) (hotly contested district) is a standard political term.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 激戦(げきせん)地(ち): battlefield, battleground
  • 激戦(げきせん)区(く): closely contested district (in elections)
  • 激戦(げきせん)の末(すえ): after a fierce battle/contest
  • 激戦(げきせん)を繰(く)り広(ひろ)げる: to wage a fierce battle
general
Added 2026.2.24 20:40
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