zhàn

war

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Components
單 sound component

  Sound component

dānshàn

  

single

戈 meaning component

  Meaning component

  

spear

Evolution

戰 Bronze script Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Bronze script

Late Warring States (~250 BC)
戰 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
戰 Clerical script Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Clerical script

Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
戰 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

() 

zhàn

war, fighting, battle; to fight; fight; war; battle

Most common words with 戰
Freq.
Word
Meaning

战争

war

fight

挑战

to challenge

战斗

to fight

战略

strategy