How to Say "Player" in Japanese

選手

senshu[sẽ̞ɰ̃ɕɨ]mainly

The Japanese word for player is 選手 (senshu).

選手 is a noun used to describe someone who plays a game or sport, but it is primarily used for athletes in organized sports.

Meaning: one who plays any game or sport (noun)

Which one should you use?

While 選手 refers to competitive athletes, the loanword プレイヤー is used instead when referring to people playing video games or musical instruments.

senshu

In Japanese media, the term プレイヤー (pureiyaa) is often used to describe a 'player' in the sense of a person who is skilled at social or romantic manipulation, rather than just someone playing a game.
When describing a 'team player' in a business context, Japanese doesn't use 選手 (senshu) but instead uses phrases like 協調性がある (kyouchousei ga aru), meaning 'having a cooperative nature'.
The kanji in 選手 (senshu) actually translates to 'selection' or 'chosen' person, reflecting the idea that a player is someone who has been selected for a team.

彼は慎重な選手だ。
He is a careful player.
This sentence is useful for describing someone's character as a 選手.
Tatoeba #103840 by bunbuku, translation #299851 by CC
ビルは野球選手だよ。
Bill is a baseball player.
This sentence is useful for identifying someone as a baseball 選手.
Tatoeba #10780208 by small_snow, translation #34464 by CN
彼はサッカー選手です。
He is a soccer player.
This sentence is useful for identifying someone as a soccer 選手.
Tatoeba #113646 by bunbuku, translation #290027 by CK
サッカー選手 (sakkā senshu)
Soccer player
野球選手 (yakyū senshu)
Baseball player
上手なプレイヤー (jōzu na pureiyā)
Skilled player
優れたプレイヤー (sugureta pureiyā)
Outstanding player
39 more sentences on Tatoeba

Misaki and Ren are watching a sports game on TV.

美咲 Misaki

あの選手、すごく速いね！
Ano senshu, sugoku hayai ne!
That player is really fast!
蓮 Ren

本当だ。すごい技術を持っているね。
Hontō da. Sugoi gijutsu o motte iru ne.
You're right. He has great skill.
美咲 Misaki

蓮はどの選手が一番好き？
Ren wa dono senshu ga ichiban suki?
Ren, which player do you like the most?
蓮 Ren

僕は背番号10の選手が好きだよ。
Boku wa seibangō jū no senshu ga suki dayo.
I like the player with number 10.

Sources

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