1.
rival warlords; rival heroes; competing powers
Multiple powerful leaders or factions competing for dominance. Originally used for warring feudal lords, now also applied figuratively to businesses, athletes, or other competitors vying for the top position.
戦国時代は群雄割拠の時代だった。
The Sengoku period was an era of rival warlords vying for power.
IT業界は群雄が競い合う世界だ。
The IT industry is a world where rival powers compete with one another.
群雄の中から一人の覇者が現れた。
From among the rival powers, one champion emerged.
USAGE:
群雄 literally means "a group of heroes" and most commonly appears in the compound 群雄割拠 (rival warlords each holding their own territory). While historically about feudal warfare, it is now widely used as a metaphor for intense competition in business, sports, and other fields.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 群雄割拠 (rival powers each occupying their own territory — set expression)
- 群雄が競い合う (rival powers compete with each other)
- 群雄の一人 (one of the competing powers)
SIMILAR WORDS:
覇者 refers to the eventual winner or champion who emerges from the competition. 群雄 refers to the multiple competitors collectively, before a single winner is determined.