Japanese word

初戦

Pronunciation

Romajishosen

Meaning

  • nounopening match

Example

私たちは初戦に勝ちました。watashi ta chi wa sho sen ni ka chi ma shi ta

We won our opening match.

Illustration for 初戦 (opening match)

More examples

監督は初戦の前に、選手たちに落ち着くよう伝えました。kan toku wa sho sen no mae ni sen shu ta chi ni o chi tsu ku yō tsuta e ma shi ta

Before the opening match, the coach told the players to stay calm.

Core concept

Identifies the opening contest that begins a player's or team's participation in a competition.

Common phrases

  • 初戦に勝つsho sen ni ka tsu

    win the opening match

  • 初戦に臨むsho sen ni nozo mu

    compete in the opening match

  • 初戦で敗れるsho sen de yabu re ru

    lose in the opening match

Similar words

開幕戦kaimakusen: The match that officially opens a tournament or season.
第一戦daiichisen: The first contest in a series between the same opponents or teams.

Definition in Japanese

競技や勝負で、参加者が最初に行う試合。kyō gi ya shō bu de san ka sha ga sai sho ni okona u shi ai

Word origin

初戦 (shosen, "opening match") is a Sino-Japanese compound of 初 (sho, "first") and 戦 (sen, "match or battle").

Usage tips

  • A team can have an opening match in a tournament even when that game is not the tournament's overall opening match.

Word lists with this word