Japanese word

勝敗

Pronunciation

Romajishōhai

Meaning

  • nounvictory or defeat

Example

最後まで勝敗は分かりませんでした。sai go ma de shō hai wa wa ka ri ma se n de shi ta

It was unclear until the end who would win.

Illustration for 勝敗 (victory or defeat)

More examples

試合終了間際の一得点が勝敗を決めました。shi ai shū ryō ma giwa no ichi toku ten ga shō hai o ki me ma shi ta

A single point near the end of the game decided the outcome.

Core concept

Frames a contest as a two-sided result in which one side wins and the other side loses.

Common phrases

  • 勝敗を決めるshō hai o ki me ru

    decide the outcome

  • 勝敗を分けるshō hai o wa ke ru

    determine the outcome

  • 勝敗が決まるshō hai ga ki ma ru

    the outcome is decided

  • 勝敗を左右するshō hai o sa yū su ru

    affect the outcome

  • 勝敗を決するshō hai o kes su ru

    decide the outcome

Similar words

勝ち負けkachimake: A casual term for the result of winning or losing in a contest.
結果kekka: The outcome of an event, whether or not it involves winning or losing.

Definition in Japanese

争いや競技などで、どちらが勝ち、どちらが負けるかという結果。araso i ya kyō gi na do de do chi ra ga ka chi do chi ra ga ma ke ru ka to i u kek ka

Word origin

勝敗 (shōhai) combines 勝 (shō, "win") and 敗 (hai, "lose"), two Sino-Japanese readings that name the opposing results of a contest.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 勝敗 (shōhai) is more specific and formal than 結果 (kekka), because it focuses on winning and losing rather than on an outcome in general.

Other meanings

  • outcomenoun

Word lists with this word