Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 競う | kisou | [kʲi̥so̞ɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 争う | arasou | [a̠ɾa̠so̞ɯ̟] (narrow) [sɨma̠ɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 競争する | kyōsō suru | |
| 勝負する | shōbu suru |
The Japanese language uses different verbs to express competition depending on whether you are focusing on the comparison of skill, a formal race, a physical struggle or settling a match. While 競う focuses on comparing abilities or results to see who is better, 競争する describes the general act of competing or racing. For sports-related matches or competitive games, you can also use 競技する. If you want to convey the idea of coming into competition with someone, the verb ぶつかる can be used.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the nuance of the competition. 競う is used when people compare their abilities or results to achieve a specific goal or reach a top spot. In contrast, 争う implies a more intense sense of conflict, struggle or fighting over something like power or territory. 競争する is a noun-based verb used to describe the act of a race or the state of competition itself. Finally, 勝負する focuses specifically on the act of deciding a winner or settling a match through strength or skill.
How do you pronounce it?
kisou
Did you know?
- While 争う is used for competition, its kanji includes the radical for 'weapon', which highlights its historical connection to physical combat and armed struggle.
- In the context of Japanese martial arts, the concept of competition is often secondary to 'do', the way or path, meaning the focus is on the perfection of form rather than just winning.
- The word 勝負 (shoubu) is composed of the characters for 'win' and 'lose', meaning that the act of competing is viewed as a single, inseparable unit of winning and losing together.
Examples in context
- 多くの学生が最高峰の大学群へ入学するために競争する。Many students compete to get into the best universities.The sentence using 競争する shows how students compete for university admission.Tatoeba #939183 by thyc244, translation #680551 by Source_VOA
- パワーリフティングは高重量を扱える種目であるスクワット、ベンチプレス、デッドリフトの3種目の最大挙上重量の総計を競うスポーツであるPowerlifting is a sport in which athletes compete to lift the maximum sum weight of the three heavy weight events, squat, bench press and deadlift.The sentence using 競う describes how athletes compete in the sport of powerlifting.Tatoeba #745856 by Minorojo, translation #745863 by Minorojo
- 彼は常に最高の成績を目指して競争しています。He is always competing to achieve the best results.
- 明日、私たちはチェスで勝負します。Tomorrow, we will compete in a game of chess.
- 彼とはいつも仲良く競い合っています。We always compete with each other in a friendly manner.
- サッカーの試合でガチンコ勝負をしよう！Let's have a serious competition in the soccer match!
- 彼はライバルと技術を競う。Kare wa raibaru to gijutsu o kisou.He contends with his rival in terms of skill.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about an upcoming school festival competition.
- 陽太 Yota文化祭のダンスイベント、出るの？Bunka sai no dansu ibento, deru no?Are you participating in the school festival dance event?
- 美咲 Misakiうん、他のチームと激しく競うつもりだよ。Un, hoka no chiimu to hageshiku kisou tsumori da yo.Yes, I intend to compete fiercely with other teams.
- 陽太 Yota美咲なら、きっと上手くやれるよ。Misaki nara, kitto umaku yareru yo.If it's you, Misaki, I'm sure you'll do great.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとう、陽太。頑張るね！Arigatou, Youta. Ganbaru ne!Thanks, Youta. I'll do my best!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “compete” translations and entries 競う, 争う, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
