====== juésài: 决赛 - Final Match, Finals, Championship Game ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 决赛, juesai, final match in Chinese, championship game Chinese, Chinese for finals, what is juesai, China sports, Chinese competition, World Cup final in Chinese, NBA finals in Chinese, learn Chinese sports terms.
  * **Summary:** Learn how to say "final match" or "finals" in Chinese with the word 决赛 (jué sài). This essential HSK 4 vocabulary is used for the ultimate championship game in any competition, from the FIFA World Cup final to the last round of a TV talent show. This guide breaks down the characters, explores its cultural significance in modern China, and provides 10 practical example sentences to help you discuss sports and competitions like a native speaker.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jué sài
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** 4
  * **Concise Definition:** The final, decisive competition or match that determines the champion.
  * **In a Nutshell:** 决赛 (jué sài) is the word for the grand finale of any tournament or contest. Think "the finals" of the NBA, the World Cup final, or the last episode of a singing competition. The character `决` means "to decide," and `赛` means "competition." Put them together, and you literally get the "deciding competition"—the one match that settles everything and crowns a winner.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **决 (jué):** This character means "to decide" or "to determine." The left side `氵` is the "water" radical. The original meaning was related to breaking a dike or dam—a decisive, final action that releases the water. This sense of finality and decisiveness is carried into the word 决赛.
  * **赛 (sài):** This character means "to compete" or a "match/race." The bottom part `贝` is the radical for "shell" or "cowry," which was used as ancient currency. This hints at the idea of competing for a prize or valuable reward.
  * **Together, 决赛 (jué sài)** creates a very logical term: the **decisive (决) competition (赛)**.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
The term 决赛 itself is straightforward, but its cultural impact in China is immense. Watching a major `决赛` is a significant social event, much like the Super Bowl in the United States.
For major international events like the **World Cup Final (世界杯决赛 - Shìjièbēi juésài)** or the **NBA Finals (NBA总决赛 - NBA zǒngjuésài)**, viewership is massive. Friends and families gather, bars and restaurants are packed, and social media explodes with discussion. There's a powerful collective energy around these events, uniting people in shared excitement and passion.
While the American "Super Bowl" is a singular, almost holiday-like event focused on one sport, `决赛` is a broader concept that applies this high-stakes energy to many different fields. The finale of a popular TV singing competition can generate just as much public buzz as a major sporting event. This highlights a cultural appreciation for the drama of peak competition in any arena, be it athletic, artistic, or even academic. The pressure and honor associated with reaching the `决赛` are universally understood.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
决赛 is a common and versatile word used in both formal and informal contexts.
  * **Sports:** This is the most frequent use. It applies to any sport at any level, from a school track meet to the Olympics.
    * e.g., 奥运会百米决赛 (Àoyùnhuì bǎimǐ juésài) - The Olympic 100-meter final.
  * **Esports:** With the massive popularity of esports in China, `决赛` is constantly used to talk about championship matches for games like League of Legends (英雄联盟 - Yīngxióng Liánméng) or Dota 2.
  * **TV Talent Shows:** For singing, dancing, or any reality TV competition, the final episode where the winner is chosen is the `决赛`.
    * e.g., 《中国好声音》的决赛 (《Zhōngguó Hǎo Shēngyīn》 de juésài) - The finals of "The Voice of China".
  * **Academic & Other Competitions:** It's also used for things like speech contests, math olympiads, or debate tournaments.
    * e.g., 汉语桥比赛决赛 (Hànyǔ Qiáo bǐsài juésài) - The "Chinese Bridge" competition finals.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 今晚有世界杯**决赛**，你支持哪一队？
    * Pinyin: Jīnwǎn yǒu Shìjièbēi **juésài**, nǐ zhīchí nǎ yí duì?
    * English: The World Cup final is tonight. Which team are you supporting?
    * Analysis: A classic and very common way to talk about a major sporting event. `支持 (zhīchí)` means "to support."
  * **Example 2:**
    * 他非常努力，终于进入了**决赛**。
    * Pinyin: Tā fēicháng nǔlì, zhōngyú jìnrù le **juésài**.
    * English: He worked really hard and finally got into the finals.
    * Analysis: This sentence uses `进入 (jìnrù)` meaning "to enter" to describe qualifying for the final round.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 很可惜，我们最喜欢的球队在**决赛**中输了。
    * Pinyin: Hěn kěxī, wǒmen zuì xǐhuān de qiúduì zài **juésài** zhōng shū le.
    * English: It's a shame our favorite team lost in the finals.
    * Analysis: `在...中 (zài...zhōng)` is a common structure for "in" or "during." `输了 (shū le)` means "lost."
  * **Example 4:**
    * 你买到**决赛**的票了吗？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ mǎi dào **juésài** de piào le ma?
    * English: Did you manage to buy tickets for the final match?
    * Analysis: `买到 (mǎi dào)` is a result complement, indicating the action of "buying" was successful.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 这场**决赛**太精彩了！
    * Pinyin: Zhè chǎng **juésài** tài jīngcǎi le!
    * English: This final match was so brilliant/exciting!
    * Analysis: `精彩 (jīngcǎi)` is the perfect adjective to describe an amazing performance or a thrilling game. `场 (chǎng)` is the measure word for matches and performances.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 祝贺你在演讲比赛中获得**决赛**资格！
    * Pinyin: Zhùhè nǐ zài yǎnjiǎng bǐsài zhōng huòdé **juésài** zīgé!
    * English: Congratulations on qualifying for the finals in the speech competition!
    * Analysis: This shows the term's use outside of sports. `获得...资格 (huòdé...zīgé)` means "to obtain the qualification for...".
  * **Example 7:**
    * **决赛**将于北京时间晚上八点开始。
    * Pinyin: **Juésài** jiāngyú Běijīng shíjiān wǎnshang bā diǎn kāishǐ.
    * English: The final will begin at 8 PM Beijing time.
    * Analysis: A more formal sentence, typical of a news report or official announcement. `将于 (jiāngyú)` is a formal way to say "will be at/on."
  * **Example 8:**
    * 谁赢了昨天的网球**决赛**？
    * Pinyin: Shéi yíngle zuótiān de wǎngqiú **juésài**?
    * English: Who won yesterday's tennis final?
    * Analysis: A simple, direct question. `赢了 (yíngle)` means "won."
  * **Example 9:**
    * 整个国家都在关注这场**决赛**。
    * Pinyin: Zhěnggè guójiā dōu zài guānzhù zhè chǎng **juésài**.
    * English: The entire country is paying attention to this final match.
    * Analysis: `关注 (guānzhù)` means "to follow with interest" or "to pay close attention to." This captures the cultural significance of a major final.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 今年NBA总**决赛**的对阵双方是哪两支队伍？
    * Pinyin: Jīnnián NBA zǒng**juésài** de duìzhèn shuāngfāng shì nǎ liǎng zhī duìwǔ?
    * English: Who are the two opposing teams in this year's NBA finals?
    * Analysis: A slightly more advanced sentence. `总决赛 (zǒngjuésài)` means "general finals" or the final series. `对阵双方 (duìzhèn shuāngfāng)` means "the two opposing sides."
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing the **event** (the final match) with the **winner** (the champion).
  *   **决赛 (jué sài) = The Final Match (the event)**
  *   **冠军 (guànjūn) = The Champion (the person/team/title)**
Think of it this way: You **win the `决赛`** to **become the `冠军`**.
**Incorrect Usage:**
  *   `我的球队是决赛。 (Wǒ de qiúduì shì juésài.)`
  *   **Why it's wrong:** This literally means "My team is the final match." A team is a group of people, not an event.
  *   **Correct Usage:**
    *   `我的球队赢了决赛。(Wǒ de qiúduì yíngle juésài.)` - My team **won the final match**.
    *   `我的球队是冠军。(Wǒ de qiúduì shì guànjūn.)` - My team **is the champion**.
Another point of confusion is with the general word for competition, `比赛 (bǐsài)`.
  *   **比赛 (bǐsài):** Any match or competition.
  *   **决赛 (jué sài):** Specifically the *final* match of a tournament.
  *   **Rule:** Every `决赛` is a type of `比赛`, but not every `比赛` is a `决赛`.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  *   [[冠军]] (guànjūn) - Champion; the winner of the `决赛`.
  *   [[亚军]] (yàjūn) - Runner-up; second place.
  *   [[半决赛]] (bànjuésài) - Semifinal (literally "half-final"). The match right before the `决赛`.
  *   [[比赛]] (bǐsài) - The general term for any match, game, or competition.
  *   [[淘汰赛]] (táotàisài) - A knockout match or elimination round.
  *   [[预选赛]] (yùxuǎnsài) - A preliminary or qualifying match.
  *   [[赢]] (yíng) - To win.
  *   [[输]] (shū) - To lose.
  *   [[队伍]] (duìwu) - Team (often used for sports teams).
  *   [[选手]] (xuǎnshǒu) - A contestant or player in a competition.