Meaning
斗牛 literally means 'to fight a bull' and primarily refers to the Spanish tradition of bullfighting. In modern Chinese usage, it can also refer to a popular card game sometimes called 'Bull Bull' or 'Niu Niu,' though that game is more commonly written as 牛牛.
Usage
When discussing the Spanish sport, 斗牛 is the standard term. The word can be used as a noun (the event/sport) or as a verb (the act of fighting bulls). In mainland China, bullfighting is not a common cultural practice, so the term is mostly encountered in discussions of Spanish or Latin American culture, or in reference to card games.
Examples
- 01西班牙的斗牛是一项传统体育活动。.Spanish bullfighting is a traditional sport.
- 02他从小就梦想成为一名斗牛士。.He has dreamed of becoming a bullfighter since he was young.
Characters
Measure words
- 场一场斗牛
Common collocations
- 斗牛士bullfighter, matador
- 斗牛场bullring
- 西班牙斗牛Spanish bullfighting
Origin
The term combines 斗 (to fight) with 牛 (bull/ox), creating a straightforward compound that directly describes the activity. It's a calque from Western languages describing the Spanish tradition.