경쟁

gyeongjaeng
nounIntermediate
general

A situation where individuals, companies, or groups strive to achieve the same objective, often leading to rivalry or contest.

경쟁이 건강한 시장 경제를 만든다.

Competition creates a healthy market economy.

💡

In business, competition can drive innovation and efficiency.

scientific

In biology, competition refers to the interaction between organisms or species that strive for the same resources in an ecosystem.

동물들은 먹이를 얻기 위해 경쟁한다.

Animals compete for food.

💡

Competition can be intra-specific (within the same species) or inter-specific (between different species).

Collocations

경쟁사rival company경쟁력competitiveness경쟁력 있는competitive

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

경쟁이 치열하다phrase
The competition is fierce
경쟁에서 승리하다phrase
To win the competition

💡Pro Tip

Business Context

In business, '경쟁' often refers to market rivalry between companies.

Gold Rule

Competition vs. Cooperation

While '경쟁' implies rivalry, '협력' (cooperation) implies working together toward a common goal.

📖Word Origin

Derived from the Sino-Korean word 경 (競, 'to compete') and쟁 (爭, 'to contend').

📝Usage Notes

In Korean, '경쟁' is often used in business and economic contexts to describe market dynamics. It can also refer to sports or academic rivalries.

Word Breakdown

to compete
root
+
to contend
root
한영사전