1.
to compete with each other
To engage in competition with one another, each trying to outperform the other.
二人の選手が競い合っている。
Two athletes are competing against each other.
企業同士が激しく競い合っている。
Companies are fiercely competing with each other.
お互いに競い合うことで成長できる。
We can grow by competing with each other.
2.
to vie, to rival each other
To strive to surpass each other in achievement or quality.
各社が品質を競い合っている。
The companies are vying with each other over quality.
二つの店が値段を競い合う。
Two stores rival each other on price.
世界中の研究者が新しい発見を競い合っている。
Researchers around the world are vying with each other for new discoveries.
競い合う is an intransitive verb (自動詞) meaning to compete with each other.
COMPOUND STRUCTURE:
- 競う (to compete) + 合う (each other) → to compete with each other
ASPECT (ている):
競い合っている indicates an ongoing competition.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 激しく競い合う (compete fiercely)
- 互いに競い合う (compete with each other)
- 切磋琢磨して競い合う (compete while improving each other)
NUANCE:
Implies mutual competition where both parties are actively trying to outdo each other. Often used in positive contexts where competition leads to improvement.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 競う: to compete (not necessarily mutual)
- 競争する: to compete (more formal)
[Register: Neutral]