The Meaning of kyousou [競争] In Japanese

競争
きょうそう
Romaji: kyousou N3

What does 競争 mean?

Translation and Meaning

competition, contest, rivalry

Definition

What does 競争 mean? It denotes the act or state of striving to outperform others, often in markets, sports, or any setting where rivals compete. In Japanese usage, it describes the dynamic of rivalry and the conditions that encourage performance and differentiation.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Competition between parties to win or outdo others; a contest of effort and strategy
  • Rivalry in contexts like business, sports, or academics, where entities try to outperform peers
  • The presence of competitive pressure that can drive efficiency, innovation, or standards

Etymology

From Sino-Japanese on’yomi readings: 競 kyō and 争 sō, conveying the idea of contest when combined into a single noun.

Composition

  • 競: to contend, strive, or compete; implies effort against others
  • 争: dispute, contest, or fight; emphasizes opposition or challenge
  • Together they form a noun describing the act of contending with others to win, i.e., competition

Usage

Used in formal and informal contexts to discuss rivalry, market dynamics, games, or policy debates; common collocations include 競争力 (competitive strength), 競争相手 (rival), and 激しい競争 (fierce competition).
💡 Tips
Imagine a race where two rivals push toward a finish line; focus on the idea of effort against others to win, which helps recall the word’s meaning when you see 競 and 争 together.

Variations

  • 競合 (kyōgō) — synonym meaning rival company or competitor
  • 対抗 (taikō) — opposition, contest; to stand against another
  • 競技 (kyōgi) — athletic competition; sports contest
  • 競争力 (kyousouryoku) — competitiveness; ability to compete

Example Phrases

  • 会社の同僚と新製品の競争について話した。
    Kaisha no dōryō to shinseihin no kyōsō ni tsuite hanashita.
    I talked with a coworker about the competition for the new product.
    Lista:
    • 会社の (kaisha no) – of the company
    • 同僚と (dōryō to) – with a colleague
    • 新製品の (shinseihin no) – of the new product
    • 競争について (kyōsō ni tsuite) – about the competition
    • 話した (hanashita) – talked
    Core: 「競争」 is a noun meaning ‘competition’, and について話す expresses ‘to talk about X’.
競争