Definitions
(verb)
to compete; to compete against
(noun)
competition; match; contest
(verb)
to surpass; better than; superior to
About
The character "赛", meaning to compete or contest, derives from the traditional form "賽", which is structurally composed of the roof radical "宀" over the phonetic component "塞" (sāi, to block) and the semantic component "貝" (shell currency), reflecting an original association with ritual offerings where valuables were presented to deities to repay vows or debts. Over centuries, the meaning shifted from this act of fulfillment to the notion of matching or contending in activities, eventually specializing into its modern sense of competition. The simplified form "赛" retains the "宀" and replaces "貝" with "贝", while streamlining the middle component derived from "塞".
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我们去看比赛吧。
赛车比赛很精彩。
他参加了跑步比赛。
这次赛跑我赢了。
比赛结果令人惊讶。
他们正在赛前准备。
这场赛事吸引了很多人。
国际赛事的标准很高。