战斗
zhàn doù · HSK 4
to fight
⚔️ 战 = war/battle + 斗 = fight/struggle; compound meaning to fight
战 alone means war or battle; 斗 means to fight or struggle (originally a pictograph of two warriors grappling). Together 战斗 reinforces the sense of active combat or battle.
斗 — pictograph of a ladle/dipper with handle
斗 originally depicted a long-handled ladle or dipper used to scoop grain or wine, and by extension became a unit of dry measure (about 10 liters). The same graph was later borrowed for the unrelated meaning 'to fight,' which in simplified Chinese merged with the traditional character 鬥. Context tells the two senses apart.