競り合う

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 競り合う, read せりあう, is a compound of contending 競る and reciprocal action 合う.
• Basic usage: Use it when two or more sides contend at very close levels, as in 選手が競り合う.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Scope and context
  • It describes a back-and-forth close contest rather than a one-sided match, with the competitors closely matched.