控(ひか)え選 手(せんしゅ)

ひかえせんしゅ

noun

substitute player; reserve player; benchwarmer

1. substitute player; reserve player; benchwarmer

A player who is on the team roster but not in the starting lineup, waiting on the bench to replace a starting player if needed. Used across various sports.

控(ひか)え選手(せんしゅ)として待機(たいき)する。

To stand by as a substitute player.

怪我(けが)をした選手(せんしゅ)に代(か)わって控(ひか)え選手(せんしゅ)が出場(しゅつじょう)した。

A substitute player entered the game in place of the injured player.

長(なが)い間(あいだ)控(ひか)え選手(せんしゅ)だったが、今(こん)シーズンからレギュラーになった。

I was a bench player for a long time, but I became a starter this season.

Common in sports coverage. The word 控(ひか)え comes from 控(ひか)える (to wait, to hold back), reflecting the idea of waiting in reserve.

Common collocations

控(ひか)え選手(せんしゅ)に回(まわ)る: to be moved to the bench
控(ひか)え選手(せんしゅ)として登録(とうろく)する: to be registered as a reserve
控(ひか)え選手(せんしゅ)が出場(しゅつじょう)する: a substitute enters the game

Similar words

レギュラー: regular, starter — a player in the starting lineup
ベンチ入(い)り: making the bench — being named to the game-day roster
補欠(ほけつ): substitute, alternate — broader term not limited to sports
交代選手(こうたいせんしゅ): replacement player — emphasizes the act of switching in

Related Words

Compare: レギュラー (regular, starter)

Compare: ベンチ入(い)り (making the bench)

Compare: 補欠(ほけつ) (substitute, alternate)

Compare: 交代(こうたい)選手(せんしゅ) (replacement player)

Compare: スタメン (starting lineup)

general

Added 2026.3.31 7:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

20500/20951_hikaesenshu