リレー

りれー
noun
relay, relay race
1. relay race
A race in which team members take turns running or swimming, passing a baton or tag to the next runner.
リレーでバトンを(わた)す。
To pass the baton in a relay.
400メートルリレーに出場(しゅつじょう)する。
To compete in the 4x100 meter relay.
運動会(うんどうかい)のリレーで一位(いちい)になった。
We came first in the relay at the sports day.
駅伝(えきでん)長距離(ちょうきょり)リレーの一種(いっしゅ)だ。
Ekiden is a type of long-distance relay.
2. relay (taking turns)
The act of continuing something in turns, passing responsibility to the next person.
夜勤(やきん)をリレー方式(ほうしき)(おこな)う。
To do night shifts in a relay system.
駅伝(えきでん)長距離(ちょうきょり)リレーの一種(いっしゅ)だ。
Ekiden is a type of long-distance relay.
ニュースをリレー形式(けいしき)(つた)える。
To relay the news in a chain format.

リレー is borrowed from English "relay." In sports, it refers to races where team members take turns. The word is also used figuratively for any activity done in turns.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • リレーを(はし)る (to run a relay)
  • バトンを(わた)す (to pass the baton)
  • 混合(こんごう)リレー (mixed relay)
  • メドレーリレー (medley relay, swimming)

TYPES OF RELAYS:

  • 4×100mリレー (4x100m relay)
  • 4×400mリレー (4x400m relay)
  • 駅伝(えきでん) (ekiden, long-distance road relay)