くじびき

くじびき

lottery, drawn lot

JLPT N1

Meaning and Usage

The word くじびき refers to a lottery or drawing lots, a common way to decide winners or order fairly by chance. It is often used in casual and formal contexts, such as festivals, games, or deciding turns.

Common Contexts

You will frequently encounter くじびき at events like festivals (祭り), school activities, or company gatherings where prizes or order need to be assigned randomly.

Collocations and Patterns

  • くじびきを引く: to draw a lottery ticket or lot.
  • くじびきで決める: to decide something by lottery.
  • くじびきの結果: the result of the lottery.

Usage Notes

When using くじびき, the speaker implies a fair and random selection process. It is important not to confuse くじびき with 抽選 (ちゅうせん), which is more formal and often used for official lotteries or raffles. くじびき is more casual and common in everyday situations.

Common Mistake

Learners sometimes confuse くじびき with くじ (lottery ticket) alone. Remember, くじびき emphasizes the act or process of drawing lots, not just the ticket itself.

Example Sentences

まつりでくじびきをひいて、けいひんがあたった。

I drew a lottery at the festival and won a prize.

くじびきでじゅんばんをきめることにした。

We decided to determine the order by drawing lots.

くじびきはこうへいなほうほうで、だれにでもチャンスがある。

A lottery is a fair method and gives everyone a chance.