闘 争 心(とうそうしん)

とうそうしん

noun

fighting spirit; combativeness; competitive drive

1. fighting spirit; combativeness; competitive drive

An inner drive to compete, fight, and not give in. Used positively for athletes and competitors who show strong determination, and sometimes negatively for excessive aggressiveness.

闘争心(とうそうしん)を燃(も)やす。

To burn with fighting spirit.

彼(かれ)は闘争心(とうそうしん)の強(つよ)い選手(せんしゅ)だ。

He is a player with a strong competitive drive.

負(ま)けが続(つづ)いても闘争心(とうそうしん)を失(うしな)わないところが彼女(かのじょ)の強(つよ)みだ。

Her strength is that she doesn't lose her fighting spirit even after a string of losses.

Composed of 闘争(とうそう) (struggle/fight) and 心(しん) (spirit/heart). Describes an inner fire and determination to compete and win. Most commonly used in sports commentary and descriptions of competitive people.

Common collocations

闘争心(とうそうしん)を燃(も)やす: to burn with fighting spirit
闘争心(とうそうしん)が強(つよ)い: to have strong fighting spirit
闘争心(とうそうしん)を失(うしな)う: to lose one's fighting spirit
闘争心(とうそうしん)を剥(む)き出(だ)しにする: to bare one's fighting spirit
闘争心(とうそうしん)旺盛(おうせい): full of fighting spirit

Similar words

闘志(とうし): fighting spirit — very similar; slightly more literary
根性(こんじょう): guts / tenacity — emphasizes endurance and toughness, more colloquial
気合(きあい): spirit / energy — short-term burst of motivation, often with a shout
負(ま)けん気(き): competitive spirit / refusing to lose — focuses specifically on the desire not to be defeated

Related Words

Compare: 闘志(とうし) (fighting spirit)

Compare: 根性(こんじょう) (guts / tenacity)

Compare: 負(ま)けん気(き) (competitive spirit / refusing to lose)

Compare: 勝(か)ち気(き) (competitive spirit)

Compare: 競争心(きょうそうしん) (competitive spirit)

general

Added 2026.4.6 5:12 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

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