1.
tournament, competition, meet
A large-scale sports competition or athletic event.
来月、テニスの大会に出る。
I'm participating in a tennis tournament next month.
オリンピック大会は4年に1度開かれる。
The Olympic Games are held once every four years.
全国大会で優勝することが夢だ。
My dream is to win the national tournament.
2.
convention, rally, mass meeting
A large gathering of people for a specific purpose, such as a conference or assembly.
党の大会で新しい方針が発表された。
A new policy was announced at the party convention.
市民大会に千人が集まった。
A thousand people gathered at the citizens' rally.
年に一度の大会では、全国から会員が集まって活動報告をする。
At the annual convention, members gather from across the country to give activity reports.
大会 refers to large organized events, especially tournaments, competitions, and conventions. Combines 大 (big) + 会 (meeting/event).
COMMON COMPOUNDS:
- 世界大会 (world championship)
- 全国大会 (national tournament)
- 決勝大会 (finals, championship)
- 運動会 (sports day — uses 会 alone)
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 大会に出る/出場する (to participate in a tournament)
- 大会を開く/開催する (to hold a tournament)
- 大会で優勝する (to win a tournament)
- 大会記録 (tournament record)
SCOPE:
While most commonly used for sports competitions, 大会 can also refer to non-athletic events like 弁論大会 (speech contest) or 将棋大会 (shogi tournament). For political or organizational assemblies, 大会 means "convention" or "congress."
Related Words
Related:
試合 (match, game)