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試合 and 勝負: a match and deciding the outcome

Distinguish a sporting event from whether its contest has produced a winner.

The event itself

試合, read しあい, means match or game. 試合は午後に始まります。 says that the match starts in the afternoon.

試合を見に行きました。 means going to watch a match. It does not mean competing as a player.

Competing to win

勝負, read しょうぶ, refers to a contest or its outcome. 最後まで勝負が分かりませんでした。 says that the outcome was uncertain until the end.

勝負を決める一球でした。 describes a single ball or play with the ball that decided the contest. Context identifies the sport.

An ending and a result

試合は終わりましたが、引き分けでした。 says that the match ended in a draw. Ending a match does not necessarily establish a winner.

もう一度勝負しましょう。 proposes another contest. It does not report one already completed.

Does 試合は終わりました alone establish that there is a winner?

Show the answer and why

No. The ending and the win-or-loss outcome require separate attention.

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