How to Write 斗 (dǒu/dòu) — Meaning “Fight; Struggle; Dou (a unit of dry measure)”

Picture the character 斗 as a person throwing a punch — the two dots at the top are two fists, and the horizontal and vertical lines form the arm and body. This visual helps you recall the meaning "fight" (dòu). Alternatively, think of the Big Dipper (北斗星) which looks like a ladle, matching the shape of 斗.

Write the two dots first, slightly separated, then the horizontal stroke, and finally the vertical stroke crossing through the center. The horizontal line should be short and level, while the vertical line must be straight and slightly longer. A common mistake is making the horizontal too long or placing the dots too far apart, which ruins the balanced, compact shape.

斗争 (dòu zhēng) means "struggle" or "fight" and is used in political or personal contexts, like class struggle or fighting for rights. 战斗 (zhàn dòu) means "to battle" and appears in military or competitive situations. 北斗星 (běi dǒu xīng) refers to the Big Dipper constellation, used in astronomy and navigation.

斗 appears in two distinct contexts: as dòu meaning "fight" in words like 奋斗 (fèn dòu, strive) and as dǒu for the traditional measurement unit (one dou ≈ 10 liters). Culturally, 北斗星 (Big Dipper) is iconic in Chinese folklore as a celestial guide, and the character itself appears in idioms like 斗志昂扬 (dòu zhì áng yáng, high morale) reflecting its active, determined meaning.

Common words containing 斗 include: 斗争 (dòu zhēng) — Struggle; Fight; 战斗 (zhàn dòu) — to fight; 北斗星 (běi dǒu xīng) — The Big Dipper.