死 闘(しとう)

しとう

noun

fight to the death; desperate battle

military

1. fight to the death; desperate battle

An extremely fierce and intense battle or struggle where the participants fight as if their lives depended on it.

両者(りょうしゃ)は死闘(しとう)を繰(く)り広(ひろ)げた。

The two sides waged a desperate battle.

決勝戦(けっしょうせん)は三時間(さんじかん)にわたる死闘(しとう)だった。

The final was a fierce battle lasting three hours.

病気(びょうき)との死闘(しとう)を乗(の)り越(こ)えて、彼女(かのじょ)は復帰(ふっき)した。

Having overcome a desperate battle with illness, she made a comeback.

Literally "death battle" — a dramatic word used both for actual life-and-death combat and figuratively for any extremely intense struggle. Commonly used in sports commentary, manga/anime, and descriptions of overcoming serious adversity like illness. The word carries a sense of determination and high stakes.

Common collocations

死闘(しとう)を繰(く)り広(ひろ)げる: to wage a fierce battle
死闘(しとう)を演(えん)じる: to put on a desperate fight
死闘(しとう)の末(すえ): after a desperate struggle
壮絶(そうぜつ)な死闘(しとう): an intense, spectacular battle

Similar words

激闘(げきとう): fierce fight — equally intense but without the "death" nuance
熱戦(ねっせん): heated contest — exciting and close, but less dramatic than 死闘(しとう)
苦闘(くとう): hard struggle — emphasizes suffering and difficulty rather than intensity

Related Words

Compare: 激闘(げきとう) (fierce fight)

Compare: 熱戦(ねっせん) (heated contest)

Compare: 苦闘(くとう) (hard struggle)

general

Added 2026.4.18 2:41 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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