補欠

• Reading: ほけつ
• Romaji: hoketsu
• Kanji breakdown: 補 (ho) — supplement, fill, compensate; 欠 (ketsu) — lack, vacancy, absence
• Pronunciation: /ho.ke.t͡sɯ/

Meaning

Filling a vacancy; substitute; reserve player. A replacement for someone absent or a backup member.

A noun describing both the act of filling a vacancy and the person who fills it: 補欠選手 (reserve player/substitute), 補欠選挙 (by-election). Very common in sports (bench players) and politics (by-elections). In sports, 補欠 carries a bittersweet nuance — the player is good enough to be on the team but not in the starting lineup.

Examples

1. 彼は3年間ずっと補欠だったが最後の大会でレギュラーになった。 He was a bench player for three years, but finally made the starting lineup at the last tournament.
2. 議員の辞職に伴い補欠選挙が行われた。 A by-election was held following the representative's resignation.
3. 補欠メンバーも練習には全員参加する。 Even reserve members participate in all practices.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, politics, organisations

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 補 (ho, supplement/fill) + 欠 (ketsu, lack/vacancy). Literally 'supplement a vacancy' — filling what is missing.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal