競る・糶る|せるseru[1]atamadaka (head-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Which spelling to use
競る競る is the more common form and the one beginners should use when writing; choose it as the practical form for producing the word.
糶る糶る is a less common written variant, so learners should generally choose 競る instead in their own writing.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto compete
- godan verb, transitive verbto bid
- godan verb, transitive verbto sell at auction
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 競る（せる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 競ります（せります） |
| Negative (nai) | 競らない（せらない） |
| polite (masen) | 競りません（せりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 競らず・競らぬ（せらず・せらぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 競った（せった） |
| polite (mashita) | 競りました（せりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 競らなかった（せらなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 競りませんでした（せりませんでした） |
| Te form | 競って（せって） |
| Potential | 競れる（せれる） |
| Passive | 競られる（せられる） |
| Causative | 競らせる（せらせる） |
| Causative passive | 競らせられる・競らされる（せらせられる・せらされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 競れば（せれば） |
| tara | 競ったら（せったら） |
| Volitional | 競ろう（せろう） |
| polite (mashou) | 競りましょう（せりましょう） |
| Imperative | 競れ（せれ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym競り合うせりあうNeutralVerb for fierce, evenly matched competition. 「競る」 also covers bidding at an auction.
- Synonym競い合うきそいあうNeutralVerb for competing against each other, each trying not to lose. 「競る」 leans toward an evenly matched contest or bidding.
- Synonym争うあらそうNeutralBroader verb: contending over something, quarrelling, even denying a claim. 「競る」 is specifically close, even competition.
- Synonym競合きょうごうWrittenWritten term for competition between similar parties, as in 「競合他社」. 「競る」 leans toward contests and bidding.
- Synonym競うきそうNeutralThe general verb for competing, as in 「腕を競う」. 「競る」 suggests a tight, neck-and-neck struggle.
- Related比べるくらべるNeutralVerb for comparing things or testing skills against each other. 「競る」 is about actual, head-to-head competition.
- Related戦うたたかうNeutralVerb for fighting a battle or struggling against hardship. 「競る」 is a close contest within a match.
- Related取り合うとりあうNeutralVerb for scrambling over something — or, in another sense, taking notice of someone. 「競る」 stays with competition.
- Related競技きょうぎWrittenWritten noun for a competitive sport or event. 「競る」 is the act of competing itself.
- Related競争きょうそうNeutralThe standard noun for competition. 「競る」 is a verb and suggests a tight, close-run contest.
- Related勝負しょうぶNeutralNoun for a match or bout decided by win or loss. 「競る」 stresses that the sides are evenly matched.
- Related対抗たいこうWrittenWritten noun for standing up to or rivalling an opponent. 「競る」 suggests a deadlocked struggle.
- Related応札おうさつWrittenWritten term for submitting a bid in a tender, such as a government contract. 「競る」 leans toward auction bidding.
- Related張り合うはりあうNeutralVerb for competing out of a refusal to lose, as between rivals. 「競る」 suggests a close, hard-fought match.
- Related立ち合うたちあうNeutralVerb for being matched against an opponent in a contest — or attending as a witness. 「競る」 is about competing.
- Related挑むいどむNeutralVerb for challenging someone or taking on a hard task. 「競る」 is a close struggle against an opponent.
- Related戦わすたたかわすWrittenWritten verb for pitting people or animals against each other, or setting up a debate. With 「競る」 you compete yourself.
- Antonym買うかうNeutralAntonym: to buy. On the auction sense, 「競る」 is the selling side and 「買う」 the buying side of the deal.
- Antonym仕入れるしいれるNeutralAntonym: to buy in stock or materials — the buyer's side, opposite to 「競る」 selling at auction; stocking up can also be done via auction.
Use 「競る」 for fierce, evenly matched competition or auction bidding, as in 「ゴール前で競る」 and 「競り落とす」. For ordinary competition pick 「競う」 or 「競争」, for determined rivalry 「張り合う」, and for bidding in a tender 「応札」; the rest are broader or written-register alternatives.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
