Japanese symbol for “contest”
試合
しあい
Romaji: shiai
match; game; bout; contest
In Japanese, contest is 試合, read しあい (shiai).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n, vi, vs match; game; bout; contest
Written forms: 試合、仕合、試合い、仕合い. Readings: しあい.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “contest”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 比べ | くらべ kurabe | contest; comparison; competition |
| 競技 | きょうぎ kyougi | game; match; contest |
| 競争 | きょうそう kyousou | competition; contest; rivalry |
| 戦い | たたかい tatakai | contest; competition; match |
| 争う | あらそう arasou | to compete; to contest; to contend |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 試験 | しけん shiken | examination; exam; test |
| 試し | ためし tameshi | trial; test; try |
| 試み | こころみ kokoromi | attempt; trial; experiment |
| 入試 | にゅうし nyuushi | entrance examination |
| 試す | ためす tamesu | to try (out); to have a try (at); to test |
| 場合 | ばあい baai | case; occasion; situation |
| 総合 | そうごう sougou | synthesis; combination; integration |
| 合う | あう au | to come together; to merge; to unite |
See also: Chinese symbol for “contest”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.