Translation guide
A game that ends with no winner; a tie or draw. In Japanese, the most common way to express this depends on the type of game and context. The general term is 引き分け (hikiwake), but specific words are used for board games, sports, and video games.
試合は引き分けでした。
The game was a draw.
同点で終わりました。
It ended in a tie.
The most common and versatile way to say a game ended in a draw, applicable to most competitive activities.
The standard noun meaning 'draw' or 'tie'. Can be used with する to mean 'to end in a draw'. Suitable for sports, board games, and general use.
試合は引き分けに終わった。
The match ended in a draw.
引き分けで勝負がつかなかった。
The contest was undecided with a draw.
Loanword from English 'draw', commonly used in sports contexts like soccer or tennis. Often used as a noun with する.
昨日の試合はドローだった。
Yesterday's game was a draw.
Loanword from English 'tie', used in sports and games. Often used in phrases like タイになる (to become a tie) or タイで終わる (to end in a tie).
スコアはタイだった。
The score was tied.
Specific terms used when a board game ends without a winner, often due to stalemate or agreement.
In shogi (Japanese chess), a draw by impasse, where both kings are in the promotion zone and neither can checkmate. This is a rule-specific draw.
この将棋は持将棋になった。
This shogi game ended in a draw by impasse.
In shogi, a draw by repetition (fourfold repetition of the same position). Also used in chess contexts when explaining the concept.
Loanword for 'stalemate' in chess. Used by chess players but not widely understood outside that context.
ステイルメイトでゲームが終わった。
The game ended in stalemate.
Expressions used when the final score is equal, common in team sports.
Means 'same score' or 'tied score'. Used as a noun or with で (同点で) to mean 'with the score tied'. Very common in sports commentary.
両チームは同点で試合を終えた。
Both teams finished the game with the same score.
同点のまま延長戦に入った。
The game went into extra time with the score tied.
Verb form meaning 'to tie' or 'to draw'. Often used in past tense to describe a game that ended in a draw.
How to say a game ended in a draw in digital or casual settings.
Still the most natural term, even in video games. Many games display 引き分け on screen.
オンライン対戦で引き分けになった。
The online match ended in a draw.
Originally used for rock-paper-scissors when both show the same hand, but extended to mean a tie or draw in casual games. Not used for serious sports.
引き分け is the most general and can be used in any context. ドロー is common in sports like soccer, while タイ is often used for scores. In casual conversation, ドロー and タイ are interchangeable, but 引き分け is safer in formal writing.
サッカーの試合はドローだった。
The soccer match was a draw.
スコアはタイだった。
The score was tied.
あいこ is very casual and implies a childish or trivial tie. Using it for a professional sports match would sound odd. Stick to 引き分け or 同点.
千日手で引き分けになった。
It became a draw by repetition.
その試合は引き分けた。
That game ended in a draw.
じゃんけんであいこだった。
It was a tie in rock-paper-scissors.
このゲームはあいこで終わろう。
Let's call this game a draw.