レース
rēsu[ɾe̞ːsɨ]
In Japanese, the English phrase 'race' can be expressed as レース (rēsu) or 競走.
Meaning: contest (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 競走 | kyōsō | [kʲo̞ːso̞ː] (narrow) |
| レース | rēsu | [ɾe̞ːsɨ] (narrow) |
レース is a common word used to refer to athletic competitions, such as running or car races.
Which one should you use?
レース is a loanword often used in modern contexts like car racing or track and field. In contrast, 競走 is a more traditional or formal term for a competition of speed. Additionally, while レース can be used generally, the specific term 競馬 is the standard way to refer to horse racing.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
rēsu
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word for 'race' as in an ethnic group is not レース, but 人種 (jinshu). Using the phonetic English loanword for an ethnic group would cause significant confusion.
- While the katakana レース is a loanword for 'race', it is also used to mean 'lace' in a textile context. This means the exact same phonetic word can refer to a car race or a delicate fabric decoration.
- In Japanese schools, the 'foot race' 徒競走 is a staple of the annual Sports Day. It is often seen as a nostalgic symbol of childhood rather than just a sporting event.
Examples in context
- 彼はレースに参加した。He took part in the race.This sentence shows how to use レース to indicate participation in a race.Tatoeba #110330 by bunbuku, translation #290564 by CK
- トムはレースに勝った。Tom won the race.This sentence demonstrates using レース to describe winning a race.Tatoeba #1039265 by bunbuku, translation #682441 by Source_VOA
- 徒競走って、大っ嫌い。I have a large hatred of the foot race.This sentence shows the use of the formal term 徒競走 to refer to a foot race.Tatoeba #9848118 by small_snow, translation #10208312 by terrywallwork
- オリンピックでのトラックレースはとても人気があります。The track races in the Olympics are very popular.
- 彼はゲームのレースでいつも私に勝ってしまうんだ。He always beats me in game races.
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Youta and Himari are watching a car race on TV.
- 陽太 Yotaこのレース、すごく白熱しているね。Kono rēsu, sugoku hakunetsu shite iru ne.This race is getting really intense.
- 陽葵 Himari本当だね。どっちが勝つかな。Hontō da ne. Dotchi ga katsu kana.It really is. I wonder who will win.
- 陽太 Yota僕は赤い車がレースに勝つと思うよ。Boku wa akai kuruma ga rēsu ni katsu to omou yo.I think the red car will win the race.
- 陽葵 Himari私は青い車に賭けるね。Watashi wa aoi kuruma ni kakeru ne.I'll bet on the blue car.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “race” translations and entries 競走, レース, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
