Japanese word

一着

Pronunciation

Romajiitchaku

Meaning

  • nounfirst place

Example

私は競走で一着になりました。watashi wa kyō sō de it chaku ni na ri ma shi ta

I came in first in the race.

Illustration for 一着 (first place)

More examples

その選手は最後の直線で一着を守りました。so no sen shu wa sai go no choku sen de it chaku o mamo ri ma shi ta

The athlete held on to first place in the final stretch.

Core concept

一着 (itchaku) presents the finish order of a contest as a ranking, with the competitor at the front holding the top position.

Common phrases

  • 一着になるit chaku ni na ru

    take first place

  • 一着を取るit chaku o to ru

    take first place

Similar words

一位ichii: The position ranked highest in a contest, list, or competition.
優勝yūshō: The achievement of winning a competition and taking first place.
首位shui: The highest position held in a ranking or set of standings.

Definition in Japanese

競走などで、最初に到着した者、またはその順位。kyō sō na do de sai sho ni tō chaku shi ta mono ma ta wa so no jun i

Word origin

The compound 一着 (itchaku) combines 一 (ichi, "one") and 着 (chaku, "arrival"), with 着 indicating the order of arrival in a contest.

Usage tips

  • Japanese race announcements often use 一着 (itchaku) in the pattern 一着になる (itchaku ni naru), which describes the outcome recorded for the winning competitor.

Other meanings

  • first to finishnoun

Word lists with this word