競争|きょうそうkyousou[0]heiban (flat)
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Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbcompetition; contest; rivalry; race
- noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verb, biologycompetition (between organisms or species)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 競争する（きょうそうする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 競争します（きょうそうします） |
| Negative (nai) | 競争しない（きょうそうしない） |
| polite (masen) | 競争しません（きょうそうしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 競争せず・競争せぬ（きょうそうせず・きょうそうせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 競争した（きょうそうした） |
| polite (mashita) | 競争しました（きょうそうしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 競争しなかった（きょうそうしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 競争しませんでした（きょうそうしませんでした） |
| Te form | 競争して（きょうそうして） |
| Potential | 競争できる（きょうそうできる） |
| Passive | 競争される（きょうそうされる） |
| Causative | 競争させる（きょうそうさせる） |
| Causative passive | 競争させられる（きょうそうさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 競争すれば（きょうそうすれば） |
| tara | 競争したら（きょうそうしたら） |
| Volitional | 競争しよう（きょうそうしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 競争しましょう（きょうそうしましょう） |
| Imperative | 競争しろ（きょうそうしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym競合きょうごうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Vying for the same market or resources, as in 「競合他社」; mostly business use, while 「競争」 covers a much wider range.
- SynonymコンペティションNeutralLoanword for a competition or tournament, often in golf or design bids; uncommon in everyday speech.
- SynonymレースNeutralLoanword for speed contests such as running or car races, e.g. 「カーレース」; also 「選挙レース」 for an election campaign.
- Synonym争奪そうだつWrittenWritten word for scrambling to seize something, as in 「優勝争奪戦」; the focus is on the prize fought over.
- Synonym争うあらそうNeutralVerb for contending or quarreling, as in 「首位を争う」; covers disputes as well as rivalry.
- Synonym対抗たいこうNeutralRivalry against a specific opponent, as in 「対抗意識」; stresses measuring yourself against them.
- Synonym競り合いせりあいNeutralNoun for an evenly matched scramble, as in 「激しい競り合い」.
- Synonym張り合いはりあいCasualColloquial. Rivalry between peers, but also the motivation or sense that effort is worthwhile.
- Synonym角逐かくちくWrittenWritten word for contending or vying with others, as in 「覇権を角逐する」; found mainly in political and sports writing.
- Related勝負しょうぶNeutralA contest decided by win or loss; the emphasis is on the outcome itself, as in 「勝負に出る」.
- Related試合しあいNeutralA single match or game played under set rules, e.g. 「サッカーの試合」「練習試合」; one concrete match, not rivalry in general.
- Related競技きょうぎNeutralA sport or event contested under rules, as in 「陸上競技」; names the athletic discipline rather than the rivalry.
- Related争いあらそいNeutralDisputes or quarrels, often with a negative feel, e.g. 「遺産争い」; broader than friendly competition.
- Related戦いたたかいNeutralA battle or struggle, more intense than 「競争」, as in 「病気との戦い」.
- Related競り合うせりあうNeutralVerb for neck-and-neck scrambling between evenly matched rivals, as in 「ゴール前で競り合う」.
- Related競い合うきそいあうNeutralVerb for rivals matching each other head to head, as in 「技を競い合う」; 「競争」 is a noun with wider use.
- Related相克そうこくWrittenWritten word for conflict between opposing forces, as in 「親子の相克」; also the five-elements overcoming cycle in Chinese philosophy.
- RelatedコンテストNeutralLoanword for a contest judged on entries or skill, e.g. 「写真コンテスト」.
- Related闘争とうそうWrittenWritten word for intense struggle, including labor disputes, as in 「権力闘争」; strongly confrontational.
- Related対戦たいせんNeutralTwo sides facing off in a match, e.g. 「対戦相手」; stresses the matchup itself rather than competition at large.
- Related合戦かっせんWrittenWritten word for pitched battles of old; today mostly in contest names such as 「歌合戦」.
- Related競るせるNeutralVerb for bidding against others, as in 「セリで競る」, or for evenly matched rivalry.
- Related腕比べうでくらべCasualColloquial. A test of skill or strength, as in 「腕比べをする」; carries a pitting-yourself-against-others nuance.
- Related戦せんNeutralMostly a suffix, as in 「決勝戦」「選挙戦」; common in everyday words but rarely used alone.
- Antonym協力きょうりょくNeutralAntonym. Joining forces toward a shared goal, as in 「協力して取り組む」; the opposite of competing.
- Antonym協調きょうちょうWrittenAntonym, written/formal prose. Mutual concession and cooperation instead of competing.
- Antonym共同きょうどうNeutralAntonym. Doing something jointly or in partnership rather than in competition.
Default to 「競争」 for competition in general. For business rivalry over markets use 「競合」; for a single match under rules, 「試合」; for the win-or-lose outcome, 「勝負」; for intense or confrontational struggle, 「闘争」; for neck-and-neck scrambling, 「競り合う」. Speed contests take 「レース」, judged contests 「コンテスト」, and 「戦」 works as a suffix in 「決勝戦」. The verbs 「争う」 and 「競い合う」 express competing in action, while 「協力」 is the antonym for cooperating instead.
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
