選手

• Reading: せんしゅ
• Romaji: senshu
• Kanji breakdown: 選 (sen) — to choose, to select; 手 (shu) — hand, person who does
• Pronunciation: /seɴ.ɕɯ/

Meaning

Player; athlete; competitor. A person selected to represent a team or group in sports.

A noun frequently used in sports contexts. 選手 implies someone chosen or selected for their skill, most commonly in athletics but also in other competitive fields. It is used as a title after names, similar to 'player' in English. Key collocations include 代表選手 (representative player), 選手権 (championship), and プロ選手 (professional athlete).

Examples

1. 彼女はオリンピックの水泳選手に選ばれた。 She was selected as a swimmer for the Olympics.
2. あの選手は毎日厳しい練習をしている。 That athlete trains hard every single day.
3. サッカー選手になるのが子どものころからの夢だった。 Becoming a soccer player has been my dream since I was a kid.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, competition, news

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 選 (to choose, to select) and 手 (hand, person who does). Together they refer to a person chosen or selected for a role, typically in competition.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal