Definition
斗智 is a verb-object compound (离合词) meaning 'to engage in a battle of wits' or 'to match wits' — you compete mentally rather than physically. The verb 斗 ('to fight/compete') can separate from the object 智 ('wisdom/wits') when inserting time, measure words, or complements: e.g., 斗了一回智 ('matched wits for a while'). It's commonly used in games, negotiations, or strategic contests. Note that the gloss 'be militant' in some dictionaries is a mistranslation — 斗智 is purely about mental competition, not aggression.
v.o.
to engage in a battle of witsto match wits
Examples
- ，斗智。Xià qí bù zhǐ shì bǐ jìshù, gèng shì dòu zhì.Playing chess isn't just about comparing skill — it's a battle of wits.
- ，斗智。Tánpàn de shíhou, shuāngfāng dōu zài dòu zhì.During the negotiation, both sides were matching wits.
- ，。Tāmen dòu le yì huí zhì, zuìhòu shuí yě méi yíng.They matched wits for a while, and in the end neither won.
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