Definition
赛 (sài) is a versatile verb meaning 'to compete' or 'to surpass'. Unlike 比赛 (bǐsài), which is the everyday noun/verb for a competition or match, 赛 is more concise and often used in compound words or fixed phrases (e.g., 赛跑 'to race'). It can also mean 'to surpass/excel' (赛过), a sense that 比赛 does not have.
verb
to competeto surpass / to excel
Easily confused
- 赏shǎnglook-aliketo reward, to bestow (a gift or money from a superior to an inferior)
- 塞sāisound-alike(verb) to stuff, to squeeze in; to block, to stop up
- 贵guìlook-alikeexpensive
- 负fùlook-alike(verb) to bear, to carry (a burden, responsibility, debt)
- 员yuánlook-alike(suffix) person; employee; member
Examples
- 赛。Míngtiān wǒmen sài yì bǎi mǐ.Tomorrow we compete in the 100-meter dash.
- 赛。Tā de sùdù sài guò le suǒyǒu rén.His speed surpassed everyone's.
- ，。Zhè cì tiánjìng bǐsài, zhǐ yǒu sān ge rén cān sài.In this track and field competition, only three people are competing.
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