準決勝

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 準決勝 is read as じゅんけっしょう and is a noun for a semifinal that determines who advances to the final.
• Basic usage: A team advancing to the semifinal appears in 準決勝まで進む, while the semifinal opponent being decided appears in 準決勝の相手が決まる.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Extent marked by まで
  • Use 準決勝まで進む to state the stage as far as which a team advanced.
• Difference from 決勝
  • It is the stage immediately before 決勝, the final match that determines the winner.