明争暗斗

to fight openly and maneuver covertly (idiom)

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) / surname Ming / Ming (c. 2000 BC), fourth of the legendary Flame Emperors, 炎帝[Yan2 di4] descended from Shennong 神農|神农[Shen2 nong2] Farmer God

bright / opposite: dark 暗[an4] / (of meaning) clear / to understand / next / public or open / wise / generic term for a sacrifice to the gods

to strive for / to vie for / to argue or debate / deficient or lacking (dialect) / how or what (literary)

variant of 暗[an4]

dark / gloomy / hidden / secret / muddled / obscure / in the dark

to close (a door) / to eclipse / muddled / stupid / ignorant / variant of 暗[an4]

abbr. for the Big Dipper constellation 北斗星[Bei3 dou3 xing1]

dry measure for grain equal to ten 升[sheng1] or one-tenth of a 石[dan4] / decaliter / peck / cup or dipper shaped object / old variant of 陡[dou3]

to fight / to struggle / to condemn / to censure / to contend / to put together / coming together

variant of 鬭|斗[dou4]

variant of 鬥|斗[dou4]

variant of 鬥|斗[dou4]