How to say "competitor" in Japanese

• ライバルCommon
  nounCovers 'competitor' in the sense of a rival — someone you are trying to beat, often over time. It carries the nuance of ongoing rivalry between people, teams, or companies.
  彼かれは自分じぶんのライバルをひどくこきおろした。↗

  He criticized his rival severely.
• 参加者さんかしゃCommon
  nounCovers 'competitor' in the neutral sense of someone entered in a contest or event. It is really 'participant' or 'entrant', so it names anyone taking part, not necessarily an opponent you are battling.
  その部屋へやは参加者さんかしゃの熱気ねっきでムンムンしていた。↗

  The air in that room was thick with the enthusiasm of the participants.

Use 「ライバル」 for a rival you compete against, emphasizing rivalry; use 参加者 for someone taking part in a competition, i.e. an entrant or participant.

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

• ライバルrival
• 参加者さんかしゃparticipant
• 敵かたきrival
• コンペティターcompetitor
• 競技者きょうぎしゃcompetitor
• 競合者きょうごうしゃcompetitor
• 競争者きょうそうしゃcompetitor
• 競争相手きょうそうあいてcompetitor
• 競合相手きょうごうあいてcompetitor
• ライバル会社ライバルがいしゃrival (company)