Japanese word

二番

Pronunciation

Romajiniban

Meaning

  • nounrunner-up

Example

彼は大会で二番でした。kare wa tai kai de ni ban de shi ta

He was the runner-up in the competition.

Illustration for 二番 (runner-up)

More examples

昨年の売上では、この商品が二番でした。saku nen no uriage de wa ko no shō hin ga ni ban de shi ta

This product ranked second in sales last year.

Core concept

It identifies the place, order, or number that comes immediately after the first.

Common phrases

  • 二番になるni ban ni na ru

    come in second

  • 二番で終わるni ban de o wa ru

    finish in second place

Similar words

二位nii: The second position in a contest, ranking, or comparison.
次点jiten: The position just below the winner in a contest.
二番手nibante: The second position in a sequence or hierarchy.

Definition in Japanese

競技などで一位に次ぐ順位。また、順序や番号が二つ目であること。kyō gi na do de ichi i ni tsu gu jun i ma ta jun jo ya ban gō ga futa tsu me de a ru ko to

Word origin

The word 二番 (niban) is formed from 二 (ni, "two") and 番 (ban, "number, turn, or rank"), so it denotes the second place, turn, or number.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese baseball, 二番 (niban) in 二番打者 (nibandasha) names the second batting slot, so it refers to lineup order rather than the team's final standing.

Other meanings

  • secondnoun
  • number twonoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 二番目nibanmesecond placenoun

Word lists with this word