勝つ
katsu[ka̠t͡sɨ]
In Japanese, the phrase "to win" is expressed as 勝つ (katsu).
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense ("won") is 勝った. To express a desire to win ("want to win"), use the stem 勝ち combined with the auxiliary verb -tai to form 勝ちたい. If you want to turn the verb into a noun phrase meaning "winning" or "the act of winning," add こと to form 勝つこと.
How do you pronounce it?
katsu
Did you know?
- The word 勝つ is a homophone for カツ (katsu), which refers to a fried pork cutlet. Students and job hunters often eat tonkatsu before a big exam or interview to 'eat victory'.
- The word 勝ち (kachi) is used in the term 勝ち組 (kachigumi), which literally means 'winning group'. It is a social label for people who have achieved wealth or high status in life.
- While 勝つ is the standard verb for winning, you might see 優勝する used instead for winning a championship or a major tournament. The latter literally means 'to undergo a victory' and carries much more weight in sports contexts.
Examples in context
- 彼はきっと勝つ。He is sure to win.This sentence uses 勝つ to show certainty about someone winning.Tatoeba #114008 by bunbuku, translation #289664 by CK
- ボストンが勝つ。Boston is going to win.This sentence uses 勝つ to indicate a future win for Boston.Tatoeba #5748455 by daifons, translation #5747803 by CM
- 勝つのは気分がいい。It feels good to win.This sentence uses 勝つ to describe the pleasant feeling associated with winning.Tatoeba #8596769 by small_snow, translation #8596763 by CK
- 彼は試合に勝ちました。He won the match.
- 我々は大会で勝利しました。We achieved victory in the tournament.
- 昨日の試合で勝ちました！I won yesterday's match!
- ゲームでポイントをたくさん集めて勝つ！Gather a lot of points and win the game!
- 今日のトーナメントで勝ってやるぜ！I'm gonna win today's tournament!
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about an upcoming tennis match.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮くんは、試合に勝つ？Ren-kun wa, shiai ni katsu?Ren, will you win the match?
- 蓮 Ren絶対勝つよ。Zettai katsu yo.I will definitely win.
- 美咲 Misaki応援しているね。Ouen shite iru ne.I'll be rooting for you.
- 蓮 Renありがとう、美咲。Arigatou, Misaki.Thanks, Misaki.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 勝つ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
