初戦(しょせん)

しょせん
noun
first match; opening game; first battle
1. first match; opening game; first round
The first game or match in a tournament, series, or competition. Also refers to the first battle in a war or military campaign.
初戦(しょせん)は来週(らいしゅう)の月曜日(げつようび)だ。
The first match is next Monday.
日本(にほん)チームは初戦(しょせん)を白星(しろぼし)で飾(かざ)った。
The Japanese team celebrated their opening game with a win.
初戦(しょせん)で強豪(きょうごう)チームに当(あ)たってしまったが、善戦(ぜんせん)した。
We were matched against a powerhouse team in the first round, but we put up a good fight.

Compound of 初(しょ) (first) + 戦(せん) (match, battle). Used primarily in sports and competition contexts.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 初戦(しょせん)を飾(かざ)る: to win the opening match
  • 初戦(しょせん)で敗退(はいたい)する: to be eliminated in the first round
  • 初戦(しょせん)に勝(か)つ: to win the first match
  • 初戦(しょせん)の相手(あいて): first-round opponent

NOTE ON HOMOPHONES:
Do not confuse with 所詮(しょせん) (after all, in the end), which is pronounced the same but has a completely different meaning.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 第一戦(だいいっせん): first match (in a series) — can refer to game one of a multi-game series
  • 開幕戦(かいまくせん): opening game (of a season) — specifically the season opener
general
Added 2026.4.3 5:21
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