noun / verb HSK 3
Traditional 賽
competition · match · race · to compete · to surpass
Meaning
赛 refers to any kind of competitive event or contest, from sports matches to academic competitions. As a verb, it means to compete or to match up against someone. It's a core word for discussing competitions and sports.
Usage
Commonly used in compound words like 比赛 (competition), 赛跑 (race), 决赛 (finals). When used alone as a noun, it typically appears in casual speech or as part of longer phrases. The verb usage is less common in isolation and usually appears in compounds or with other verbs.
Examples
- 01我们学校明天有足球赛。.Our school has a soccer match tomorrow.
- 02他参加了马拉松赛。.He participated in a marathon race.
Measure words
- 场一场赛
- 次一次赛
Common collocations
- 比赛competition, match
- 赛跑race, running race
- 决赛finals
- 参赛to participate in a competition
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 賽 originally combined elements suggesting offering sacrifices and competing, as ancient competitions were often religious ceremonies. The simplified form 赛 reduces the complexity while maintaining the phonetic component.