Translation guide
Expressing the act or result of winning a prize in Japanese. The most natural way depends on whether you are talking about the event, the result, or the prize itself.
To say that someone won a prize in a contest, lottery, or competition.
The most common and versatile way to say 'win a prize'. 賞 (しょう) means 'prize' and 取る (とる) means 'to take/win'.
彼はコンテストで賞を取った。
He won a prize in the contest.
Describing something that has won a prize, like a 'prize-winning novel'.
Use the past tense of 受賞する to modify a noun. This is the standard way to say 'prize-winning'.
これは受賞した小説です。
This is a prize-winning novel.
Similar to 受賞した, but often used for contests and competitions.
Specifically for winning a prize through luck, such as in a lottery, raffle, or game.
Means 'to win a prize' (literally 'to hit a prize') in a raffle, game, or lottery. 景品 (けいひん) is a prize or gift.
ゲームで景品を当てた。
I won a prize in the game.
賞を取る is the most general and can be used in casual conversation. 受賞する is formal and often used for prestigious awards. 入賞する is common in contest settings and implies being selected among winners.
The English verb 'win' can be translated as 勝つ (かつ) when referring to winning a game or competition, but for prizes, use 取る, 受賞する, or 当てる depending on context. Saying 賞を勝つ is unnatural.
Literally 'to win a prize', often used in formal contexts like competitions or awards. It implies being selected as a winner.
彼女の作品が展覧会で入賞した。
Her work won a prize at the exhibition.
Means 'to receive a prize/award'. Used for prestigious awards like the Nobel Prize or literary prizes.
彼はノーベル賞を受賞した。
He won the Nobel Prize.
Used specifically for winning a prize in a lottery or raffle. Means 'to win' in the sense of luck.
宝くじで１等が当たった。
I won first prize in the lottery.
入賞した写真が展示されている。
The prize-winning photographs are on display.
Similar to 景品を当てる, but 賞品 (しょうひん) often refers to a prize in a competition or lottery.
抽選で賞品を当てた。
I won a prize in the drawing.