Word
Kana: たいけつ Romaji: taiketsu Level: N1

対決

Meaning in English

confrontation, showdown

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Word context

What it means

What does 対決 mean? It refers to a direct confrontation between opposing sides or individuals, typically a decisive clash such as a match, duel, or public face-off, where the outcome is decided by the encounter.

Main meanings

  • Direct clash between rivals, usually ending with a winner and a loser.
  • Figurative or high-stakes clash in sports, politics, entertainment, or media coverage.
  • Used to describe a match, duel, or tense exchange in which the participants face off with the aim to determine a winner.

How to use it

Used in formal and neutral contexts to describe a direct clash between rivals, typically in sports, politics, debates, and media coverage; also used metaphorically for non-physical confrontations such as verbal exchanges or ideological standoffs; the noun can take the suru verb when describing the act, 対決する.

Variants and close terms

  • 決戦 (kessen) — final battle or showdown
  • 対戦 (taisen) — matchup or competition between opponents
  • 対立 (tairitsu) — confrontation or clash of positions
  • 和解 (wakai) — reconciliation, antonym

Composition

  • 対: facing, opposite sides; to oppose or compare
  • 決: to decide, to settle, implying finality

Etymology

対たい + 決けつ merged as a Sino-Japanese compound; on'yomi readings combined to form taiketsu, a noun meaning a direct confrontation or showdown.

Word class

noun (名詞)

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