勝つ
katsu[ka̠t͡sɨ]
To win in Japanese is said as 勝つ (katsu). Wiktionary also lists 勝利する (shōri suru).
Meaning: transitive: achieve victory in (verb)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 勝つ | katsu | [ka̠t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
| 勝利する | shōri suru |
When you want to specify what or whom you are winning against, you use the particle に before the opponent or the thing being overcome, as in 〜に勝つ.
Which one should you use?
勝つ is the standard, more common way to say 'to win' in daily conversation and general contexts. In contrast, 勝利する is a more formal and literary way to say 'to achieve victory', often used in news reports or official contexts.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb has several common forms: the past tense is 勝った (won), the potential form is 勝てる (can win or is able to win) and the conditional form is 勝てば (if one wins). Additionally, 勝ち can be used as the noun form of the verb to mean 'a win' or 'victory'.
How do you pronounce it?
katsu
Did you know?
- The term 勝ち組 (kachigumi) is a common social term used to describe people who are considered 'winners' in life, typically meaning they have stable jobs and high incomes.
- The concept of 'winning' can be expressed through the word 優勝 (yūshō), which specifically refers to winning a championship or a tournament, rather than just a single match.
- If you want to say someone 'won by a landslide' or 'won easily', Japanese often uses the phrase 圧勝 (asshō), which uses the same root idea of victory but implies an overwhelming or crushing win.
Examples in context
- 勝つと思う？Do you think we'll win?This sentence is useful for asking for an opinion on whether a win will occur using 勝つ.Tatoeba #10466907 by small_snow, translation #4049091 by CK
- 彼はきっと勝つ。He is sure to win.This sentence is useful for expressing certainty about someone winning using 勝つ.Tatoeba #114008 by bunbuku, translation #289664 by CK
- 誰が勝つと思う？Who do you think will win?This sentence is useful for asking a question about who will win using 勝つ.Tatoeba #3169758 by tommy_san, translation #3165794 by Hybrid
- 私は試合に勝ちました。I won the game.
- 彼女は大会で優勝しました。She won the competition.
- やった！I did it!
- 勝った！I won!
- 74 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are talking about a local sports tournament.
- 結衣 Yui健太君は試合に勝つ？Kenta-kun wa shiai ni katsu?Will you win the match, Kenta?
- 健太 Kentaはい、絶対に勝つよ。Hai, zettai ni katsu yo.Yes, I will definitely win.
- 結衣 Yui応援しているね。Oen shite iru ne.I'll be rooting for you.
- 健太 Kenta結衣さん、ありがとう。Yui-san, arigatou.Thank you, Yui.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “win” translations and entries 勝つ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
