争う
あらそう · arasou · JLPT N3 · verb-godan
to argue
🥊 Sounds like Are so! - the comeback that keeps every argument going
Two kids fighting: Are not! Are so! That shout of a-ra-SO-u is what arguing sounds like. The kanji 争 means to compete or contend, so you also see it in 競争 (kyousou, competition) and 戦争 (sensou, war).
争 — hand 爫 (claw) over hand 又 pulling 亅
争 depicts two hands grabbing the same object from above and below, with a vertical stroke representing the contested item between them. The image of two parties tugging at one thing gave rise to its meanings of 'to contend,' 'to fight for,' or 'to dispute.' The modern simplified form streamlines the older 爭.