Word
競争
Meaning in Englishcompetition, contest
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
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Word context
What it means
What does 競争 mean? It denotes the act or state of striving to outperform others, often in markets, sports, or any setting where rivals compete. In Japanese usage, it describes the dynamic of rivalry and the conditions that encourage performance and differentiation.
Main meanings
- Competition between parties to win or outdo others; a contest of effort and strategy
- Rivalry in contexts like business, sports, or academics, where entities try to outperform peers
- The presence of competitive pressure that can drive efficiency, innovation, or standards
How to use it
Used in formal and informal contexts to discuss rivalry, market dynamics, games, or policy debates; common collocations include 競争力 (competitive strength), 競争相手 (rival), and 激しい競争 (fierce competition).
Variants and close terms
- 競合 (kyōgō) — synonym meaning rival company or competitor
- 対抗 (taikō) — opposition, contest; to stand against another
- 競技 (kyōgi) — athletic competition; sports contest
- 競争力 (kyousouryoku) — competitiveness; ability to compete
Composition
- 競: to contend, strive, or compete; implies effort against others
- 争: dispute, contest, or fight; emphasizes opposition or challenge
- Together they form a noun describing the act of contending with others to win, i.e., competition
Etymology
From Sino-Japanese on'yomi readings: 競 kyō and 争 sō, conveying the idea of contest when combined into a single noun.
Word class
Noun (名詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N1
抗争
kousou
dispute, resistance
N1
争い
arasoi
dispute, quarrel, conflict
N1
紛争
funsou
dispute, trouble, strife
N2
競馬
keiba
horse racing
N3
争う
arasou
dispute, argue, fight, compete
N3
競技
kyougi
competition, game, athletic event
N3
論争
ronsou
controversy, dispute, debate
N4
戦争
sensou
war, armed conflict
Kanji