How to say "team" in Japanese

• チームJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe most direct equivalent of 'team': a group that plays sport or works together; the word you will usually want for sports teams and workplace or project teams.
  サッカーのチームはトムによって引率いんそつされる。↗

  The soccer team is led by Tom.
• 団体だんたいJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounEssentially an organization, association, or group of people; its 'team' sense appears mainly in team competitions, as opposed to individual events.
  学校がっこうから団体だんたいで行いく人ひとたちもいるが、ほとんどの人ひとたちはばらばらに行いく。↗

  Some go in groups organized by their schools, but most go in twos and threes.
• 班はんJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)A small squad or unit within a larger organization, formed for a particular task — a work crew or patrol; not the word for a sports team.
  サマーキャンプでは、彼女かのじょが私の班はんの責任者せきにんしゃになった。↗

  At the summer camp, she was in charge of the group I belonged to.
• 勢ぜいCommon
  noun (suffix)A contingent, camp, or body of people, competitors, or companies; for 'team' it is marginal — seldom the word you want, since it really denotes such a group rather than a team.
• 部ぶJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)A club at a school or university; as 'team' it covers such school clubs and their squads, so it fits school sport rather than professional or workplace teams.
  バドミントン部ぶはまともな部員ぶいんが極端きょくたんに少すくないため、ほとんど廃部はいぶないし休部きゅうぶ状態じょうたいだった。↗

  There were so few proper members in the badminton club that it was half-way between dead and 'on break'.

Use 「チーム」 for an ordinary team in sport or work, 部 for a school club team, 班 for a small task unit, 団体 for organizations and team competitions, and 勢 only marginally for a contingent.

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

• チームteam
• 団体だんたいgroup
• 班はんgroup
• 勢ぜいgroup (of people, competitors, companies, etc.)
• 選手団せんしゅだんteam (of players, athletes)
• 隊たいparty
• 部ぶclub (at a school, university, etc.)
• 軍ぐんteam
• 組くみgroup (of people)
• クラブsports club
• イレブンteam (of eleven players; esp. in soccer)
• ナインteam