対(たい)

たい

noun

pair, versus, against

sports abstract

See also: 対(たい)する (verb form)

1. pair, couple, set

Two things that form a matching set. In this sense the character is usually read つい, as in 一対(いっつい) (a pair); see 対(つい).

この花瓶(かびん)は一対(いっつい)で売(う)られている。

These vases are sold as a pair.

一対(いっつい)のイヤリング。

A pair of earrings.

一対(いっつい)の燭台(しょくだい)。

A pair of candlesticks.

対(つい)になっている置物(おきもの)。

Ornaments that form a pair.

神社(じんじゃ)の入(い)り口(ぐち)に一対(いっつい)の狛犬(こまいぬ)が置(お)かれている。

A pair of guardian dogs is placed at the entrance of the shrine.

2. versus, against

Used to indicate opposition or comparison between two sides, as in sports scores or matchups.

日本(にほん)対(たい)ブラジルの試合(しあい)を見(み)た。

I watched the Japan vs. Brazil match.

3対(たい)2で勝(か)った。

We won 3 to 2.

1対(たい)0で負(ま)けた。

We lost 1 to 0.

A対(たい)Bの対戦(たいせん)。

A match between A and B.

チャンピオン対(たい)挑戦者(ちょうせんしゃ)。

Champion versus challenger.

与党(よとう)対(たい)野党(やとう)。

Ruling party versus opposition.

対(たい) has two main uses: "versus/against" and "pair/set." The reading changes depending on meaning.

Pronunciation

たい: used for the "versus" sense (A対(たい)B) and more broadly in compounds built on the root sense of "facing, corresponding to" (対策(たいさく), 対象(たいしょう) — these mean "countermeasure" and "target," not "versus" directly)
つい: "pair" meaning (一対(いっつい)の花瓶(かびん))

USAGE (versus):

A対(たい)B: A versus B (sports, debates, competitions)
N対(たい)N: score format (3対(たい)2 = 3 to 2)
Common in sports broadcasts and news

USAGE (pair):

一対(いっつい)の〜: a pair of ~
対(つい)になっている: forming a pair

Compounds

対策(たいさく): countermeasure
対象(たいしょう): target, object
反対(はんたい): opposite, opposition
対応(たいおう): response, correspondence
対立(たいりつ): opposition, confrontation

Related Words

Related: 対策(たいさく) (compound)

Compare: 対(つい) (pair (read つい))

core

Added 2026.1.12 23:02 · Revised 2026.10.10 9:35

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