開幕戦(かいまくせん)

かいまくせん
noun
opening game; season opener
1. opening game; season opener
The first game or match of a sports season, tournament, or series.
開幕戦(かいまくせん)で勝(か)った。
We won the opening game.
プロ野球(やきゅう)の開幕戦(かいまくせん)を見(み)に行(い)った。
I went to see the professional baseball season opener.
今年(ことし)のサッカーリーグの開幕戦(かいまくせん)は三月(さんがつ)に予定(よてい)されている。
This year's soccer league opening game is scheduled for March.

A compound of 開幕(かいまく) (opening, raising the curtain) + 戦(せん) (match, game, battle). Originally a theater term (開幕(かいまく) = raising the curtain), now widely used in sports contexts. In Japan, the start of the professional baseball season (開幕(かいまく)) is a significant cultural event each spring.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 開幕戦(かいまくせん)を飾(かざ)る: to grace the opening game (to win it memorably)
  • 開幕戦(かいまくせん)の先発(せんぱつ): starting pitcher/player in the season opener
  • 開幕戦(かいまくせん)のチケット: tickets for the opening game

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 最終戦(さいしゅうせん): final game — the last game of a season or tournament
  • 開幕(かいまく): opening (of a season/event) — the broader concept, not limited to a specific game
  • 初戦(しょせん): first match — used for tournament first rounds, while 開幕戦(かいまくせん) refers specifically to the season or series opener
general
Added 2026.4.7 21:41
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