(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)()やす。
To burn with fighting spirit.
(かれ)闘争心(とうそうしん)(つよ)選手(せんしゅ)だ。
He is a player with a strong competitive drive.
()けが(つづ)いても闘争心(とうそうしん)(うしな)わないところが彼女(かのじょ)(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 (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)()やす: to burn with fighting spirit
  • 闘争心(とうそうしん)(つよ)い: to have strong fighting spirit
  • 闘争心(とうそうしん)(うしな)う: to lose one's fighting spirit
  • 闘争心(とうそうしん)()()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
  • ()けん(): competitive spirit / refusing to lose — focuses specifically on the desire not to be defeated