試合に負けて勝負に勝つ

Japanese

Kanji in this term
試	合	負	勝	負	勝
し Grade: 4	あ(い) Grade: 2	ま Grade: 3	しょう Grade: 3	ぶ Grade: 3	か Grade: 3
kun'yomi		kun'yomi	on'yomi		kun'yomi

Etymology

Literally, "to lose the competition but win the match".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɕia̠i ɲ̟i ma̠ke̞te̞ ɕo̞ːbɯ̟ ɲ̟i ka̠t͡sɨ]

Phrase

試(し)合(あい)に負(ま)けて勝(しょう)負(ぶ)に勝(か)つ • (shiai ni makete shōbu ni katsu) 

1. (informal) to have "won" a match on a psychological or personal level despite losing to all appearances