“Win” is Not Always "Katsu" .
Today, I would like to explain why the Japanese word "katsu" (勝つ) and the English word "win" are not always the exact same thing. Let's start by looking at a few examples.
Games and Matches (Sports)
My team won that match.
Watashi no chīmu ga ano shiai ni kachimashita.
My team won against his team. / My team beat his team.
Watashi no chīmu wa kare no chīmu ni kachimashita.
His team lost to my team.
Kare no chīmu wa watashi no chīmu ni makemashita.
Note: The opposite of "katsu" (to win) is "makeru" (to lose).
Championships and Prizes
Japan will win the World Cup. (I hope!)
Nihon wa Wārudo Kappu de yūshō suru deshō.
Note: In Japanese, we do not use "katsu" here. Instead, we use "yūshō suru", which means "to win first prize" or "to become number one."
Japan will win second prize.
Nihon wa ni-i ni naru deshō.
"Shobu" vs. Making Money
"Katsu" (勝つ) and "makeru" (負ける) are words used for "shōbu" (勝負 - victory or defeat / a match). They are used when competing in sports and similar activities.
You can also use them when asking about gambling, such as horse racing, since gambling is also a type of "shōbu":
Did you win?
(Keiba de) kachimashita ka?
However, we do not use "katsu" in the following sentence:
My friend won about 20,000 yen at his first race.
Tomodachi wa saisho no rēsu de ni-man-en gurai mōkemashita.
Note: The opposite of "mōkeru" (to make a profit) is "son o suru" (to make a loss).
I had a loss of 5,000 yen.
Watashi wa go-sen-en son o shimashita.
Lotteries and Games of Chance
Finally, for things based purely on luck, such as lotteries or prize drawings, the nuance in Japanese is "receiving something by chance or good fortune." Therefore, "katsu" and "makeru" are not used.
I hope I will win the lottery.
Takarajuki ni ataru to ii na.
Note: "~ ni ataru" is an intransitive verb (to be hit / to win).
Someone won 10,000,000 yen in the lottery.
Dareka ga takarakuji de isshin-man-en o ateta.
Note: "~ o ateru" is a transitive verb (to hit / to win [a prize]).
As you can see, "katsu" and "win" cannot always be translated literally. It also shows us just how incredibly versatile and convenient the English verb "win" really is!