【析形】会意字。甲骨文、小篆字形上为爪(手),下为又(手),中间表示某一物体,像两人争一样东西。隶、楷字形作“爭”,又写作“争”。现以“争”为正字。 【释义】《说文》:“引也。”本义是争夺、争抢。由争夺引申为竞争、比。又由具体的争夺引申指是非的争辩,即争执。[争先恐后]争着向前,唯恐落后。[明争暗斗]明里暗里都在互相争斗。多形容尽力争权夺利。 【shape analysis】It is the associative character.In Oracle and Bronze Inscriptions the upper part is爪(zhǎo,hand)and the lower part is又(yòu,hand),while in the middle is something.The whole character seems that two persons are fighting for something. 【original meaning】Scrambling for or fighting for something.