勝負|しょうぶshoubu[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounvictory or defeat
2. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbmatch; contest; game; bout; showdown
   ボブはスケートではきみといい勝負しょうぶだ。↗

   Bob is a good match for you in skating.

   ゆっくりでも着実ちゃくじつにやってゆけば勝負しょうぶには勝かつ。↗

   Slow and steady wins the race.

• Related試合しあいNeutralA sports or martial-arts match played under set rules, as in 「野球の試合」; 「勝負」 centers on the act of settling who wins.
• Related競争きょうそうNeutralRivalry to outdo others, as in 「生存競争」; it can run long-term, while 「勝負」 usually settles things in one go.
• Related戦いたたかいNeutralA battle, fight or struggle, also a contest, as in 「時間との戦い」; broader in scope than 「勝負」.
• Related取り組みとりくみNeutralA sumo bout or pairing, or an effort to tackle something; 「勝負」 covers any kind of win-or-lose contest.
• RelatedゲームNeutralLoanword for a game or a round of play; 「勝負」 stresses deciding a winner and suits both casual and serious play.
• Related競技きょうぎNeutralA sport or event contested under rules, as in 「陸上競技」; it names the event category rather than the winning and losing itself.
• Related対抗たいこうNeutralRivalry or opposition against an opponent, as in 「クラス対抗」; highlights the two sides pitted against each other.
• Related戦いくさWrittenArchaic, written word for war or battle, as in 「勝ち戦」, also used figuratively of contests; carries a stronger sense of actual combat than 「勝負」.
• RelatedコンテストNeutralLoanword for an event judging the merits of works or skills, as in 「写真コンテスト」.
• Related争いあらそいNeutralA dispute or quarrel, also rivalry, as in 「首位争い」; often carries a sense of conflict.
• Related対戦たいせんNeutralFacing or taking on an opponent, as in 「対戦相手」; stresses the head-to-head matchup.
• Related合戦かっせんNeutralBattles between warriors of old, also figuratively for fierce contests, as in 「歌合戦」 and 「雪合戦」.
• Related一戦いっせんWrittenA single battle or game, as in 「大事な一戦」; stresses that it is one match. Written word.
• RelatedコンクールNeutralLoanword for competitions in music, painting and the like that judge works or skill; 「勝負」 is the general term for settling a winner.
• RelatedコンペNeutralLoanword for a golf competition or a design bid; common in business.
• RelatedコンペティションNeutralThe full form of 「コンペ」; a competition or bid, leaning formal.
• Related争うあらそうNeutralA verb meaning to compete, contend or quarrel; 「勝負」 is the noun for the act of settling a winner.
• Related腕比べうでくらべNeutralA test of strength or skill; the emphasis is on pitting abilities against each other, with an old-fashioned colloquial flavor.
• RelatedマッチNeutralLoanword for a match, mostly seen in compounds like 「タイトルマッチ」; seldom used on its own.
• Related手合わせてあわせNeutralA bout with an opponent, as in 「お手合わせ願います」; has a polite, modest tone.
• Related争奪戦そうだつせんNeutralA fierce scramble for something, as in 「優勝争奪戦」; the focus is on the prize being fought over.
• RelatedダービーNeutralLoanword for a derby race, or figuratively a heated contest for a title, as in 「本塁打王ダービー」.

Use 「勝負」 for the act of settling a win or loss, as in 「勝負する」. For sports matches pick 「試合」, for long-term rivalry 「競争」, for artistic competitions 「コンクール」 or 「コンテスト」, and for facing an opponent 「対戦」. 「戦い」 covers battles and struggles more broadly, 「競技」 names a sport as an event, and 「ゲーム」 is a game or round. Loanwords like 「マッチ」, 「コンペ」 and 「ダービー」 have their own niches, while 「戦」 and 「一戦」 are written words for battle and a single bout.

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

1. 勝ち負かちまけを争あらそうこと。
2. 勝かつことと負まけること。勝かつか負まけるか。結果けっか。
3. 互角ごかくに競きそうこと。
4. 様子ようす見みや時間じかん稼かせぎをしたり守まもりに入はいったりせず、相手あいてに果敢かかんに立ち向たちむかうこと。野球やきゅう・ソフトボールで、投手とうしゅが敬遠けいえんをせず打者だしゃと対決たいけつすること。
5. 山場やまば。重要じゅうようなポイント。気合きあいを入いれてものごとに臨のぞむこと。
6. 勝ち負かちまけを争あらそう。
7. 戦たたかいを申し入もうしいれるときの言葉ことば。「勝負しょうぶだ」などの形かたちでも用もちいる。