How to say "cheer" in Japanese

• 歓声かんせいJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe noun for a cheer as a shout of joy — the roar raised by a crowd or audience at a match or performance. It names the sound itself, not the act of encouraging someone.
  群集ぐんしゅうは嬉うれしさのあまり歓声かんせいを上あげた。↗

  The crowd yelled with delight.
• チアCommon
  nounThe borrowed word, used for 'cheer' in the cheerleading sense, as with a cheerleading squad or performance. It is not a general word for a shout of joy or encouragement.
• 気合きあいCommon
  nounCovers 'cheer' as a spirited yell: a shout for getting in the right mood to deal with something, as when psyching yourself up before a task or match.

Use 歓声 for a crowd's shout of joy, 気合 for a yell that psyches someone up to deal with something, and 「チア」 for the English loanword's cheerleading sense of 'cheer'.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 歓声かんせいcheer
• チアcheer
• はやし立てるはやしたてるto cheer
• 気を引き立てるきをひきたてるto cheer
• 声援を送るせいえんをおくるto cheer (for)
• 勇気づけるゆうきづけるto encourage
• 喝采を送るかっさいをおくるto applaud
• エールを送るエールをおくるto give a shout (of encouragement)
• 気合きあいshout (for getting in the right mood to deal with something, etc.)
• 囃すはやすto cheer
• 声をかけるこえをかけるto cheer (on)
• チャントchant (in a sports game, etc.)