bǐsài: 比赛 - Competition, Match, Game

• Keywords: 比赛, bisai, Chinese for competition, Chinese for match, Chinese word for game, what is bisai, learn Chinese, HSK 3, 比, 赛, Chinese sports, Chinese contest
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 比赛 (bǐsài), which means competition, match, or game. As a fundamental HSK 3 vocabulary item, 比赛 is used constantly in daily conversations about sports, academic contests, and even friendly challenges. This comprehensive guide breaks down the characters, explores the cultural significance of competition in China, and provides dozens of practical examples to help you master this crucial term.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bǐ sài
• Part of Speech: Noun / Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A contest or event where individuals or teams compete against one another to determine a winner.
• In a Nutshell: 比赛 (bǐsài) is your go-to word for any kind of formal or informal competitive event. If it has rules, opponents, and a result (a winner and a loser), it's a 比赛. Think of a soccer match, a swimming race, a chess tournament, a speech contest, or even a video game tournament—all of these are types of 比赛. It can be used as a noun (“the competition”) or a verb (“to compete”).

• 比 (bǐ): This character's original form depicted two people standing side-by-side, as if for comparison. Its primary meaning is “to compare,” “to contrast,” or to express a ratio (e.g., 3:1 is read 三比一 sān bǐ yī).
• 赛 (sài): This character can be broken down. The top (宀) is the “roof” radical, suggesting a place or building. The bottom part originally contained the character for valuables or shells (贝), which were used as currency. Together, it suggests a structured event, often for a prize or honor. Its modern meaning is “to compete” or “a match.”
• When combined, 比赛 (bǐsài) literally means “to compare in a contest.” This perfectly captures the essence of a competition where participants are measured against each other to produce a definitive result.

Competition is a powerful force in Chinese society, and the word 比赛 carries significant weight. While in the West, “competition” is often associated with individual achievement and sportsmanship, in China it is frequently tied to collective honor and immense pressure. A key cultural point is the concept of competition in education. The national college entrance exam, the 高考 (gāokǎo), is arguably the most important 比赛 in a young person's life. The outcome doesn't just reflect on the individual student; it brings great honor (or disappointment) to their entire family and school. This is a stark contrast to the American SAT, which is seen more as an individual metric rather than a collective contest. Similarly, in international sports, a 比赛 is not just a game. It's a matter of national pride. Chinese athletes who win are celebrated as national heroes who have brought glory to the country. This collective perspective means that the pressure in a 比赛 can be extremely high, as the stakes often feel much larger than just a single win or loss.

比赛 is an incredibly versatile word used in many modern contexts. It can function as both a noun and a verb. As a Noun (the competition/match): This is its most common usage. It's often preceded by a measure word, most commonly 场 (chǎng) for an event or game.

• `一场比赛 (yī chǎng bǐsài)` - a match/game
• `足球比赛 (zúqiú bǐsài)` - a soccer match
• `演讲比赛 (yǎnjiǎng bǐsài)` - a speech contest

As a Verb (to compete/to have a match): It can also be used as a verb, meaning “to compete.” This is common in informal speech when challenging someone.

• `我们比赛吧！ (Wǒmen bǐsài ba!)` - Let's compete! / Let's have a match!
• `我想跟你比赛游泳。(Wǒ xiǎng gēn nǐ bǐsài yóuyǒng.)` - I want to compete with you in swimming.

The word is neutral in connotation and can be used in both formal settings (news reports, announcements) and highly informal ones (a friendly dare).

• Example 1:
  • 今天的比赛很重要，我们必须赢。
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān de bǐsài hěn zhòngyào, wǒmen bìxū yíng.
  • English: Today's match is very important, we must win.
  • Analysis: A classic example of 比赛 used as a noun (“the match”). 重要 (zhòngyào) means important.
• Example 2:
  • 我每个周末都和朋友们看足球比赛。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měi gè zhōumò dōu hé péngyǒumen kàn zúqiú bǐsài.
  • English: Every weekend, I watch soccer matches with my friends.
  • Analysis: Here, 比赛 is a noun modified by 足球 (zúqiú) to specify the type of competition.
• Example 3:
  • 我们来比赛看谁跑得快！
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen lái bǐsài kàn shéi pǎo de kuài!
  • English: Let's compete to see who runs faster!
  • Analysis: 比赛 is used as a verb here, initiating a challenge. `看谁 (kàn shéi)` is a common structure meaning “to see who…”
• Example 4:
  • 这次比赛的冠军是谁？
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì bǐsài de guànjūn shì shéi?
  • English: Who is the champion of this competition?
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how to ask about the result of a 比赛. 冠军 (guànjūn) means “champion.”
• Example 5:
  • 为了准备演讲比赛，他练习了很多次。
  • Pinyin: Wèile zhǔnbèi yǎnjiǎng bǐsài, tā liànxíle hěn duō cì.
  • English: In order to prepare for the speech contest, he practiced many times.
  • Analysis: Shows 比赛 in an academic or non-sporting context. 演讲 (yǎnjiǎng) means speech.
• Example 6:
  • 你想参加明年的马拉松比赛吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xiǎng cānjiā míngnián de mǎlāsōng bǐsài ma?
  • English: Do you want to participate in next year's marathon?
  • Analysis: 参加比赛 (cānjiā bǐsài) is a very common collocation meaning “to participate in a competition.”
• Example 7:
  • 这场比赛太精彩了！
  • Pinyin: Zhè chǎng bǐsài tài jīngcǎi le!
  • English: This match was so wonderful/exciting!
  • Analysis: 场 (chǎng) is the standard measure word for matches and performances. 精彩 (jīngcǎi) is the perfect adjective for a great game.
• Example 8:
  • 虽然我们输了比赛，但是我们学到了很多。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán wǒmen shū le bǐsài, dànshì wǒmen xuédào le hěn duō.
  • English: Although we lost the match, we learned a lot.
  • Analysis: Introduces the opposite of winning: 输 (shū), to lose.
• Example 9:
  • 弟弟天天玩电脑，想当一名电竞比赛的选手。
  • Pinyin: Dìdi tiāntiān wán diànnǎo, xiǎng dāng yī míng diànjìng bǐsài de xuǎnshǒu.
  • English: My younger brother plays on the computer every day and wants to be an e-sports competition player.
  • Analysis: A very modern usage. 电竞 (diànjìng) is e-sports, and 选手 (xuǎnshǒu) is a contestant/player.
• Example 10:
  • 比赛将在下午三点准时开始。
  • Pinyin: Bǐsài jiāng zài xiàwǔ sān diǎn zhǔnshí kāishǐ.
  • English: The competition will begin promptly at 3 PM.
  • Analysis: A formal announcement style. 将 (jiāng) is a formal way to say “will,” and 准时 (zhǔnshí) means on time.

1. `比赛 (bǐsài)` vs. `游戏 (yóuxì)` - Competition vs. Game This is the most common pitfall for learners.

• 比赛 (bǐsài): Implies a structured contest with rules and a clear winner/loser. It's about competing.
• 游戏 (yóuxì): Means “game” in a general sense, including for fun, play, or entertainment.

Think of it this way: You can play a video 游戏 (yóuxì) by yourself for fun. But when you enter a tournament for that same video game, you are participating in a 比赛 (bǐsài). A group of children playing tag are playing a 游戏, not having a 比赛 (unless they make it a formal race). 2. `比赛 (bǐsài)` vs. `竞争 (jìngzhēng)` - A Match vs. Abstract Rivalry

• 比赛 (bǐsài): Refers to a specific event or match. You can watch, win, or lose a 比赛.
• 竞争 (jìngzhēng): Refers to the abstract concept of “competition” or “rivalry,” usually in a larger context like business, economics, or evolution.
  • Correct: 市场竞争很激烈。 (Shìchǎng jìngzhēng hěn jīliè.) - The market competition is fierce.
  • Incorrect: 市场比赛很激烈。

3. Using `比赛` as a Verb While 比赛 can be a verb, you can't use it like the English verb “to play” in the context of sports.

• Incorrect: 我喜欢比赛篮球。 (Wǒ xǐhuān bǐsài lánqiú.)
• Correct: 我喜欢打篮球比赛。 (Wǒ xǐhuān dǎ lánqiú bǐsài.) - I like to play in basketball matches.
• Correct: 我喜欢看篮球比赛。 (Wǒ xǐhuān kàn lánqiú bǐsài.) - I like to watch basketball matches.

The structure is typically `[Verb of the activity] + [Noun of the activity] + 比赛`.

• 竞争 (jìngzhēng) - Competition in the abstract sense; rivalry (e.g., in the marketplace).
• 游戏 (yóuxì) - A game, play; often for fun and not necessarily competitive.
• 冠军 (guànjūn) - The champion; the first-place winner of a 比赛.
• 赢 (yíng) - To win (a game, a bet, a 比赛).
• 输 (shū) - To lose (a game, a bet, a 比赛).
• 选手 (xuǎnshǒu) - A contestant or player selected to be in a 比赛.
• 裁判 (cáipàn) - A referee or judge who enforces the rules in a 比赛.
• 体育 (tǐyù) - Sports or physical education; the domain of many 比赛.
• 决赛 (juésài) - The final match or round of a tournament-style 比赛.
• 加油 (jiāyóu) - “Go!”; “Come on!”; A phrase shouted to encourage participants in a 比赛.