Explore 競 in contests, business rivalry and sporting events. Connect each reading to a complete word.

The idea

競 has 20 strokes; use the linked diagram for their order. Read 競う（きそう）, 競争（きょうそう） and 競技（きょうぎ） as whole words.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
競うきそうThe two teams competed for the championship.
競争きょうそうThe companies are competing on price.
競技きょうぎI watched the swimming events.

Examples

  • 二ふたつのチームが優勝ゆうしょうを競きそいました。The two teams competed for the championship.
  • 企業きぎょうが価格かかくで競争きょうそうしています。The companies are competing on price.
  • 水泳すいえいの競技きょうぎを見みました。I watched the swimming events.
  • 彼女かのじょは陸上りくじょう競技きょうぎに参加さんかしました。She took part in a track and field event.
  • 兄妹きょうだいは速はやさを競きそいました。The siblings competed with each other in speed.
  • 仕事しごとをめぐる競争きょうそうは激はげしいです。Competition for jobs is fierce.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

競争 means competition, while 競技 refers to a competitive sport or event. In 競う, the う belongs to the verb; do not read it きょうう.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 競う in hiragana.

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    きそう

    競う is きそう: the verb means to compete.

  2. Write the reading of 競争 in hiragana.

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    きょうそう

    競争 is きょうそう: it means competition.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿技（きょうぎ）［競／境］.

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    競

    競 completes 競技（きょうぎ）, a competitive event or sport.

Use it today

Write 競 following the diagram, then cover the table and read each word. Make a sentence using 競争.