zhànshèng: 战胜 - To Defeat, To Triumph Over, To Overcome
Quick Summary
Keywords: zhansheng, 战胜, how to say defeat in Chinese, overcome in Chinese, triumph over, Chinese for victory, win a battle in Chinese, overcome difficulties Chinese, beat an opponent in Chinese.
Summary: Learn how to use the powerful Chinese verb 战胜 (zhànshèng), which means to defeat, triumph over, or overcome. This term is used for everything from winning a major sports competition to overcoming personal challenges like illness or fear. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and provides practical examples to help you understand how to use `战胜` to express a hard-won victory.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): zhànshèng
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 4
Concise Definition: To defeat an opponent or overcome a significant challenge through struggle.
In a Nutshell: `战胜` is more than just “to win” (`赢 yíng`). It carries the weight of a battle. The character `战 (zhàn)` literally means “war” or “battle.” Therefore, `战胜` implies that the victory was not easy; it required a fight, perseverance, and effort. You use it for significant victories, both literal (like in a war or a championship game) and metaphorical (like overcoming a disease or a deep-seated fear).
Character Breakdown
战 (zhàn): This character originally depicted a spear (`戈 gē`), representing combat and warfare. It means “battle,” “war,” or “to fight.” It sets a tone of conflict and struggle.
胜 (shèng): This character signifies “victory,” “to win,” or “to be superior to.” It implies successfully exerting power or skill to come out on top.
Combined Meaning: Together, `战胜 (zhànshèng)` literally translates to “battle-win.” This combination creates a vivid image of achieving victory through a difficult fight. It emphasizes the process of struggle leading to a triumphant outcome.
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on perseverance, resilience, and the ability to endure hardship (a concept related to `吃苦耐劳 chī kǔ nài láo`). `战胜` is a cornerstone of this narrative. It's a verb that celebrates not just the win itself, but the strength and determination required to get there.
Comparison to Western Concepts: While `战胜` can be translated as “to conquer,” it often lacks the aggressive or dominating connotation that “conquer” can have in English. The Chinese term is frequently used in contexts of self-improvement, like `战胜自己 (zhànshèng zìjǐ)`, meaning “to overcome oneself.” This concept of conquering one's own weaknesses is highly valued and is seen as the ultimate form of victory. It's less about dominating an external foe and more about mastering an internal or external challenge. It's a victory of spirit and will.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Formal & Inspirational Contexts: `战胜` is very common in formal speeches, news reports, and motivational writing. You will hear it used for national achievements, Olympic victories, and public health campaigns (e.g., “战胜病毒” - defeat the virus).
Personal Struggles: It's the go-to term for describing a victory over serious personal challenges. This includes overcoming illness (`战胜病魔 zhànshèng bìngmó` - to defeat the demon of illness), conquering a fear (`战胜恐惧 zhànshèng kǒngjù`), or breaking a bad habit.
Competition: In business and sports, `战胜` is used when defeating a major rival, especially after a long and difficult competition. For a casual game, the simpler verb `赢 (yíng)` is more appropriate.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
中国女排最终战胜了强大的对手，赢得了冠军。
Pinyin: Zhōngguó nǚpái zuìzhōng zhànshèng le qiángdà de duìshǒu, yíngdéle guànjūn.
English: The Chinese women's volleyball team finally defeated their formidable opponent and won the championship.
Analysis: This is a classic example from sports. `战胜` is used because the opponent was “formidable” (`强大`), implying a difficult match.
English: In life, the greatest enemy isn't others, but how to overcome oneself.
Analysis: This is a philosophical sentence highlighting the cultural value placed on self-mastery.
Example 6:
我们的军队成功战胜了入侵者。
Pinyin: Wǒmen de jūnduì chénggōng zhànshèng le rùqīnzhě.
English: Our army successfully defeated the invaders.
Analysis: A literal, military use of the term. `战胜` is perfectly suited for the context of war (`战`).
Example 7:
消防员们战胜了大火，保护了整个社区。
Pinyin: Xiāofángyuánmen zhànshèng le dàhuǒ, bǎohùle zhěnggè shèqū.
English: The firefighters triumphed over the massive fire and protected the whole community.
Analysis: Here, the “enemy” is a natural disaster. The term conveys the heroic struggle involved.
Example 8:
这家小公司通过创新战胜了市场上的大品牌。
Pinyin: Zhè jiā xiǎo gōngsī tōngguò chuàngxīn zhànshèng le shìchǎng shàng de dà pǐnpái.
English: This small company defeated the big brands in the market through innovation.
Analysis: Used in a business context to describe a David-and-Goliath victory.
Example 9:
为了战胜恐惧，他决定去学习跳伞。
Pinyin: Wèile zhànshèng kǒngjù, tā juédìng qù xuéxí tiàosǎn.
English: In order to conquer his fear, he decided to learn skydiving.
Analysis: A clear example of overcoming a psychological barrier. Fear (`恐惧`) is the opponent.
Example 10:
只有团结起来，我们才能战胜眼前的挑战。
Pinyin: Zhǐyǒu tuánjié qǐlái, wǒmen cáinéng zhànshèng yǎnqián de tiǎozhàn.
English: Only by uniting can we overcome the challenge before us.
Analysis: This emphasizes collective effort. It's often used in speeches to rally a group towards a common goal.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
`战胜 (zhànshèng)` vs. `赢 (yíng)`: This is the most critical distinction. `赢` simply means “to win.” Use it for games, bets, or matches that aren't life-or-death struggles. `战胜` implies a significant battle and a hard-won victory.
Incorrect: 我下棋战胜了我弟弟。(Wǒ xiàqí zhànshèng le wǒ dìdi.) - This sounds overly dramatic, as if the chess game were an epic war.
Correct: 我下棋赢了我弟弟。(Wǒ xiàqí yíng le wǒ dìdi.) - “I won against my little brother in chess.” This is natural and correct.
`战胜` is about defeating, not being defeated: `战胜` means “to defeat someone/something.” A common mistake for English speakers is to use it to mean “I was defeated.” The word for being defeated is `战败 (zhànbài)` or more commonly `输了 (shū le)` or `被打败了 (bèi dǎbài le)`.
Incorrect: 我们的球队战胜了。(Wǒmen de qiúduì zhànshèng le.) - This means “Our team was victorious.” It DOES NOT mean “Our team was defeated.”
Correct: 我们的球队输了。(Wǒmen de qiúduì shū le.) - “Our team lost.”
`战胜` vs. `打败 (dǎbài)`: `打败` also means “to defeat” or “to beat.” It's very common and slightly less formal than `战胜`. `打败` focuses more on the action of beating an opponent, while `战胜` emphasizes the entire struggle and the resulting triumph. They are often interchangeable when talking about defeating a person or team. However, for abstract concepts like illness or fear, `战胜` or `克服 (kèfú)` are more common.
Related Terms and Concepts
胜利 (shènglì) - (Noun) “Victory,” “triumph.” This is the result or outcome of `战胜` an opponent.
赢 (yíng) - (Verb) “To win.” The more general, common, and informal synonym for winning a game or competition.
打败 (dǎbài) - (Verb) “To beat,” “to defeat.” A very common alternative to `战胜`, slightly less formal and focused on the act of defeating.
克服 (kèfú) - (Verb) “To overcome.” A close synonym used for overcoming abstract things like difficulties, weaknesses, or obstacles. It lacks the “battle” imagery of `战胜`.
失败 (shībài) - (Noun/Verb) “Failure,” “to fail,” “defeat.” The primary antonym of `战胜`.
输 (shū) - (Verb) “To lose.” The direct antonym of `赢 (yíng)`.
挑战 (tiǎozhàn) - (Noun/Verb) “A challenge,” “to challenge.” The obstacle or opponent that one must `战胜`.
斗争 (dòuzhēng) - (Noun/Verb) “A struggle,” “to struggle against.” Describes the process of fighting that is inherent in `战胜`.
敌人 (dírén) - (Noun) “Enemy.” The entity one might `战胜` in a battle or conflict.