Fighter in Chinese
The Chinese word for fighter is 斗士 (dòu shì). A fighter for a cause: someone who never stops fighting. In traditional characters it is written 鬥士.
dòu shì
Fighter
What 斗士 means.
斗 is to fight or struggle and 士 is a warrior or a man of standing. 斗士 is used for people who fight for a cause or against illness, rather than for violence.
- 斗
- to fight, struggle
- 士
- warrior, scholar
Simplified and traditional
斗士
鬥士
Both are correct and mean the same. Traditional 鬥士 keeps the older, fuller shape that calligraphy grew up with; simplified 斗士 is what most Chinese readers use today. Our seal and clerical styles write it in the traditional form.
About fighter in Chinese
How do you write fighter in Chinese?
Fighter is 斗士 in Chinese, pronounced dòu shì. Fighter 斗 means “to fight, struggle”, 士 means “warrior, scholar”.
How do you pronounce 斗士?
Say dòu (fourth tone, falling), shì (fourth tone, falling). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 斗士 different in traditional Chinese?
Yes. The traditional form is 鬥士, used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and classical calligraphy; 斗士 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore. Both are correct.
Is 斗士 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. Keep the characters in their order, top to bottom or left to right, and never mirrored. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.