경쟁
A situation in which people or organizations try to be more successful than others. A very common theme in IELTS Task 2 essays regarding education and the global market.
Examples
3 of 5우리 회사는 다른 업체들과 치열하게 경쟁하고 있어요.
Our company is competing fiercely with other businesses.
정부는 시장의 자유로운 경쟁을 보장해야 합니다.
The government must guarantee free competition in the market.
너무 경쟁하려고 하지 마.
Don't try to compete too much.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Gyeong-jaeng: Sounds like 'Gaining' an edge over 'Jang' (opponents).
Quick Quiz
입시 _____이 너무 치열해서 학생들이 쉴 시간이 없습니다.
Correct!
The correct answer is: 경쟁
Examples
우리 회사는 다른 업체들과 치열하게 경쟁하고 있어요.
everydayOur company is competing fiercely with other businesses.
정부는 시장의 자유로운 경쟁을 보장해야 합니다.
formalThe government must guarantee free competition in the market.
너무 경쟁하려고 하지 마.
informalDon't try to compete too much.
생태계 내에서 자원을 차지하기 위한 종간 경쟁이 발생한다.
academicInterspecific competition occurs within ecosystems to claim resources.
글로벌 시장에서 경쟁 우위를 점하는 것이 중요합니다.
businessIt is important to gain a competitive advantage in the global market.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
경쟁을 벌이다
to engage in competition
경쟁에서 이기다/지다
to win/lose in a competition
선의의 경쟁
good-willed competition
Often Confused With
경기 is a specific sports match or race, while 경쟁 is the broader concept of competing.
Usage Notes
Used both for physical contests and abstract social/economic situations.
Common Mistakes
Mixing up '경쟁' and '경제' (economy) due to similar spelling.
Memory Tip
Gyeong-jaeng: Sounds like 'Gaining' an edge over 'Jang' (opponents).
Word Origin
From Sino-Korean 競 (gyeong - compete) and 爭 (jaeng - struggle/fight).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
Korean society is often described as highly competitive, especially in education and job hunting.
Quick Quiz
입시 _____이 너무 치열해서 학생들이 쉴 시간이 없습니다.
Correct!
The correct answer is: 경쟁
Related Vocabulary
More society words
수용하다
B2To accept, take in, or accommodate ideas, opinions, people, or external influences.
직면하다
B2To come face to face with a difficult situation, problem, or reality directly.
지양하다
B2To refrain from doing something or to avoid a certain direction or behavior, often for ethical, social, or practical reasons. It implies choosing not to follow a negative path.
획일적
B2Being uniform or standardized without any variation. It often describes systems or methods that force everything into the same pattern, lacking diversity.
순기능
B2A positive function or beneficial role that a certain system or phenomenon plays.
역기능
B2A negative function, dysfunction, or harmful side effect that a certain system or phenomenon produces.
역동성
B2The quality of being characterized by constant change, activity, or progress; dynamism.
소외
B2The state of being isolated or excluded from a group or society; alienation.
공헌하다
B2To contribute or devote oneself to a cause, society, or the development of something. It is used when someone's actions lead to a positive and significant impact.
다문화주의
B2The presence of, or support for the presence of, several distinct cultural or ethnic groups within a society.
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