1.
entering a war, joining a battle
The act of a country or military force entering an ongoing war or armed conflict.
その国は戦争に参戦した。
That country entered the war.
同盟国として参戦を決めた。
They decided to enter the war as an allied nation.
参戦を回避するために外交努力を続けた。
They continued diplomatic efforts to avoid entering the war.
2.
joining a competition, entering a contest
Used figuratively for entering a competition, tournament, or any competitive situation. Common in sports, gaming, and business contexts.
大会に参戦する。
Enter a tournament.
新しい選手がチームに参戦した。
A new player joined the team.
大手企業がスマートフォン市場に参戦し、競争が激しくなった。
A major company entered the smartphone market, and competition intensified.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 戦争に参戦する (enter a war)
- 大会に参戦する (enter a tournament)
- 市場に参戦する (enter a market)
- 参戦国 (belligerent nation)
USAGE NOTES:
The figurative use in sports and business is now very common. In gaming, 参戦 is frequently seen when a new character joins a fighting game roster (e.g., 「○○参戦！」). The military sense remains the word's primary meaning in historical and news contexts.