勝る・優る|まさるmasaru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
勝る勝る is the more common written form of まさる and the recommended choice for beginners.
優る優る is a less common written variant of まさる; learners will generally encounter 勝る more often.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto excel; to surpass; to exceed; to have an edge; to be superior; to outrival
- godan verb, intransitive verbto outweigh; to preponderate
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 勝る（まさる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 勝ります（まさります） |
| Negative (nai) | 勝らない（まさらない） |
| polite (masen) | 勝りません（まさりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 勝らず・勝らぬ（まさらず・まさらぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 勝った（まさった） |
| polite (mashita) | 勝りました（まさりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 勝らなかった（まさらなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 勝りませんでした（まさりませんでした） |
| Te form | 勝って（まさって） |
| Potential | 勝れる（まされる） |
| Passive | 勝られる（まさられる） |
| Causative | 勝らせる（まさらせる） |
| Causative passive | 勝らせられる・勝らされる（まさらせられる・まさらされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 勝れば（まされば） |
| tara | 勝ったら（まさったら） |
| Volitional | 勝ろう（まさろう） |
| polite (mashou) | 勝りましょう（まさりましょう） |
| Imperative | 勝れ（まされ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym優れるすぐれるNeutralFor being excellent in itself, usable on its own, as in 「優れた作品」; 「勝る」 is about coming out ahead in a comparison, with the other party often implied by context.
- Synonym上回るうわまわるNeutralFor exceeding a number or amount, as in 「予想を上回る」; 「勝る」 covers comparisons of quality and ability as well as quantity.
- Synonym凌ぐしのぐNeutralCovers surpassing or overwhelming someone, and also enduring or getting through hardship; 「勝る」 focuses on coming out ahead in a comparison.
- Synonym超越ちょうえつWrittenWritten language for transcending a limit, boundary or category; 「勝る」 is about being superior in a comparison.
- Synonym超絶ちょうぜつNeutralFor being in a league of one's own, often with extreme difficulty, as in 「超絶技巧」; 「勝る」 is about winning a comparison.
- Synonym優越ゆうえつWrittenThe state of being superior to others, as in 「他に優越する」 or 「優越感」; leans written, while 「勝る」 is the everyday verb.
- Synonym秀でるひいでるWrittenWritten word for excelling in a particular field, as in 「才能に秀でる」; 「勝る」 centers on coming out ahead in a comparison.
- Synonym飛び抜けるとびぬけるNeutralFor being outstandingly good, as in 「飛び抜けた才能」; 「勝る」 is about coming out ahead in a comparison.
- Synonym傑出けっしゅつNeutralFor being eminent or outstanding, with a laudatory tone; 「勝る」 is about being superior in a comparison.
- Synonym卓抜たくばつWrittenWritten word for being preeminent, head and shoulders above the rest; 「勝る」 is about winning a comparison.
- Synonym抜きん出るぬきんでるNeutralFor standing out from the crowd, being ahead of everyone; 「勝る」 is about being superior to a particular object of comparison.
- Synonym凌駕りょうがWrittenWritten word for surpassing or overwhelming a rival, as in 「他を凌駕する」; close to 「勝る」 but more formal.
- Synonym立ち勝るたちまさるWrittenA rare written word meaning to surpass; in everyday use, say 「勝る」.
- Synonym図抜けるずぬけるCasualColloquial word for standing out head and shoulders above the crowd; 「勝る」 is about being superior in a comparison.
- Synonym抜き出るぬきでるNeutralFor being outstanding or conspicuous; 「勝る」 is about being superior to a compared object.
- Synonymずば抜けるずばぬけるCasualColloquial word for being far ahead of the rest, as in 「ずば抜けた成績」; stresses a very large gap.
- Synonym特出とくしゅつWrittenWritten word for being especially prominent; 「勝る」 is about being superior in a comparison.
- Related並外れるなみはずれるNeutralFor being out of the ordinary, far from the usual level; 「勝る」 is about being superior in a comparison.
- Antonym劣るおとるNeutralAntonym in quality comparisons: to be inferior to, not as good as; the opposite of 「勝る」.
Use 「勝る」 when comparing with something else and coming out ahead, as in 「健康に勝るものはない」. To say something is simply excellent, use 「優れる」; for exceeding a number or amount, 「上回る」; for standing far above the crowd, 「ずば抜ける」 or 「抜きん出る」. The antonym is 「劣る」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
