論争
ろんそう · ronsou · JLPT N3 · noun
controversy
🗣️⚔️ 論 argue + 争 fight = controversy; ronsou sounds like Wrong, so?
論 means argument or discussion, as in 理論 (theory). 争 means to contend, as in 戦争 (war). A ronsou starts when one side says you're wrong and the other answers so what?
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.