楽勝

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 楽勝 is a noun read らくしょう and literally denotes an easy victory achieved with little difficulty.
• Basic usage: Use it for an actual contest in 楽勝とはいかなかった and figuratively for an easy task in 試験なんて楽勝だ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Literal and figurative uses
  • Besides an easy win in a contest, it can call a task or test a “piece of cake.” The figurative use does not involve a literal winner.
• とはいかない
  • 楽勝とはいかなかった means that matters did not turn out to be the easy win described or expected. It does not by itself state that the person lost.
• Attitude in なんて
  • In 試験なんて楽勝だ, なんて shows the speaker treating the test lightly. Keep that attitude marker distinct from the basic meaning of 楽勝だ.