1.
candidate; nominee; contender
A person who is put forward or who puts themselves forward for a position, award, or selection. Used in political, professional, and general contexts.
候補者が三人いる。
There are three candidates.
次期社長の候補者として名前が挙がった。
My name came up as a candidate for the next company president.
選挙では五人の候補者が激しい選挙戦を繰り広げた。
In the election, five candidates waged a fierce campaign.
A compound of 候補 (candidacy) and 者 (person). The base word 候補 can also be used alone to mean "candidacy" or "candidate" in a broader sense (e.g., candidate locations or candidate items).
USAGE:
候補者 specifically refers to people, while 候補 can refer to either people or things. In elections, 候補者 is the standard term. In business, it covers job candidates, promotion candidates, and award nominees.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 候補者を立てる — to put up a candidate
- 候補者を絞る — to narrow down the candidates
- 有力候補者 — strong/leading candidate
- 候補者選び — candidate selection
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 候補 — candidate, candidacy (broader, includes things as well as people)
- 志願者 — volunteer, applicant (someone who puts themselves forward)
- 応募者 — applicant (someone who applies in response to a call)