1.
first place; first to arrive
The first to cross the finish line in a race, especially in horse racing, cycling, or other competitive events.
彼が一着でゴールした。
He finished in first place.
一着は大きな差をつけて圧勝だった。
The first-place finisher won by a large margin in a dominant victory.
地元の選手が一着を取り、観客は大いに盛り上がった。
The local athlete took first place, and the spectators were thrilled.
2.
one suit; one outfit
A counter expression for one piece of clothing, typically a suit, dress, or complete outfit.
スーツを一着買った。
I bought one suit.
旅行には着替えを一着持っていく。
I'll bring one change of clothes on the trip.
オーダーメイドのスーツは一着十万円もするが、体に完璧に合う。
A custom-made suit costs 100,000 yen per piece, but it fits your body perfectly.
Has two distinct meanings depending on context. In racing and competition contexts, it means first place. As a counter, it counts suits and outfits.
SENSE 1 — FIRST PLACE:
Commonly used in horse racing (競馬) and other races. The sequence continues: 二着 (second place), 三着 (third place).
SENSE 2 — CLOTHING COUNTER:
Used to count suits, dresses, and complete outfits: 一着, 二着, 三着.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 一位: first rank/place — more general ranking term, not specific to racing
- 一枚: one sheet/piece — counter for flat items; used for shirts and thin garments but not suits
- 一着目: the first outfit (ordinal)