Meaning
作战 is a formal military term meaning to engage in combat or warfare. It emphasizes organized military action rather than personal fighting. The word combines 作 (to do, to make) with 战 (war, battle), literally meaning 'to make war' or 'to conduct battle.' It's commonly used in military contexts, news reports about conflicts, and strategic discussions.
Usage
This is a formal term primarily used in military, strategic, or official contexts. In everyday conversation about personal conflicts or arguments, people would use 打架 instead. 作战 often appears with modifiers describing the type or nature of military operations, such as 联合作战 (joint operations) or 信息作战 (information warfare).
Examples
- 01军队正在前线英勇作战。.The troops are fighting bravely at the front line.
- 02两国军队作战了三年才停战。.The armies of the two countries fought for three years before a ceasefire.
Characters
Common collocations
- 联合作战joint military operations
- 作战能力combat capability
- 作战方案battle plan, operational plan
- 英勇作战to fight bravely
Antonyms
Origin
The term combines the character 作 (meaning to act or do) with 战 (war/battle), creating a compound that emphasizes the active conduct of military operations. This construction pattern is common in formal Chinese vocabulary.