闘わずして勝つ vs. 闘わずに勝つ


The following is said immediately after the protagonist wins without having to
fight, as he previously stated he would:

> 闘わずして勝つってな
>
> I said I'll win without fighting.

I would have expected the English translation to be expressed in Japanese as
「闘わずに勝つってな」or 「闘わないで勝つってな」. In fact, I find the use of する there somewhat
confusing. Is する referring to the actions leading up to 勝つ or is it referring
to 勝つ itself, or is it simply grammatical and lacks a concrete meaning?

**Could someone please explain how 闘わずして勝つってな and 闘わずに勝つってな differ in overall
meaning?**

Also, if it is simple and for my information, when would you use 戦う rather
than 闘う?




> 「 Verb in 未然形{みぜんけい} ("Imperfective Form") + **ずして** 」

is simply a **literary** way of saying:

> 「 Verb in 未然形{みぜんけい} ("Imperfective Form") + **ないで or ずに** 」

All of these phrases mean " ** _without (verb)ing_** "; therefore,
「闘{たたか}わずして勝{か}つ」 means " ** _to win without fighting_** ". 「ず」 means「ない」. You
are doing B without first doing A.

「して」 here is a **conjunction** meaning " ** _and then_** "; You should not be
looking at it as the te-form of 「する」(even though that is where it
etymologically comes from).

Believe me, you have already "seen" this 「して」 hundreds of times in the other
conjunctions 「そして」 and 「そうして」. Hope things are starting to make sense for you.

> Could someone please explain how 闘わずして勝つってな and 闘わずに勝つってな differ in overall
> meaning?

There is no difference in meaning -- none. As I said above, the former sounds
more literary. The latter sounds more vernacular and plain.

> Also, if it is simple and for my information, when would you use 戦う rather
> than 闘う?

Generally speaking, 「戦う」 tends to be used to talk about a physical and/or
armed combat. 「闘う」 tends to be used to describe a mental fight as in
persevering through difficulties or deseases.

When used in novels and such, however, the author may make the unexpected
kanji choice for his own aesthetic reasons.




> 「 Verb in 未然形{みぜんけい} ("Imperfective Form") + **ずして** 」

is simply a **literary** way of saying:

> 「 Verb in 未然形{みぜんけい} ("Imperfective Form") + **ないで or ずに** 」

All of these phrases mean " ** _without (verb)ing_** "; therefore,
「闘{たたか}わずして勝{か}つ」 means " ** _to win without fighting_** ". 「ず」 means「ない」. You
are doing B without first doing A.

「して」 here is a **conjunction** meaning " ** _and then_** "; You should not be
looking at it as the te-form of 「する」(even though that is where it
etymologically comes from).

Believe me, you have already "seen" this 「して」 hundreds of times in the other
conjunctions 「そして」 and 「そうして」. Hope things are starting to make sense for you.

> Could someone please explain how 闘わずして勝つってな and 闘わずに勝つってな differ in overall
> meaning?

There is no difference in meaning -- none. As I said above, the former sounds
more literary. The latter sounds more vernacular and plain.

> Also, if it is simple and for my information, when would you use 戦う rather
> than 闘う?

Generally speaking, 「戦う」 tends to be used to talk about a physical and/or
armed combat. 「闘う」 tends to be used to describe a mental fight as in
persevering through difficulties or deseases.

When used in novels and such, however, the author may make the unexpected
kanji choice for his own aesthetic reasons.

