勝負心(しょうぶしん)

しょうぶしん
noun
fighting spirit; will to win
emotionsports
1. fighting spirit; will to win; desire to prevail in a contest
The mental determination to engage in a contest and fight to win. Strongly associated with sports, martial arts, and games.
勝負心(しょうぶしん)がなければ勝(か)てない。
You can't win without a fighting spirit.
あの選手(せんしゅ)は勝負心(しょうぶしん)にあふれている。
That athlete is overflowing with the will to win.
大事(だいじ)な試合(しあい)ほど勝負心(しょうぶしん)を前面(ぜんめん)に出(だ)して戦(たたか)うべきだ。
The more important the match, the more you should fight with your will to win on full display.

A compound of 勝負(しょうぶ) (contest, match) + 心(しん) (heart/spirit). Refers to the determination to engage seriously in competition and fight to win. More action-oriented than 競争心(きょうそうしん), which is about wanting to outperform others in general. Commonly used in sports commentary.

Common collocations

  • 勝負心(しょうぶしん)にあふれる: to be full of fighting spirit
  • 勝負心(しょうぶしん)を見(み)せる: to show one's will to win
  • 勝負心(しょうぶしん)が足(た)りない: to lack fighting spirit
  • 勝負心(しょうぶしん)を前面(ぜんめん)に出(だ)す: to put one's fighting spirit front and center

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 競争心(きょうそうしん) (competitive spirit)
Compare: 闘志(とうし) (fighting spirit)
Compare: 根性(こんじょう) (guts, grit)
general
Added 2026.5.7 1:06 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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