How do you say 'close' as in a close contest?


When I play sports in Japan I hear おしい！a lot when for example a shot is almost
in, but just out, or if you just about lose a closely contested point or game.

Is there a way to say a match or game was close without including the
dissapointment connotation of おしい (dissapointing in the dictionary)?




惜しい＝close, almost (made it)

I do not think that 惜しい always has the disappointment connotation. It is just
the same as the English words, "close" and "almost." In many situations,
however, the disappointment connotation would be involved because "it was
_close_."

Other expressions would be:

**接戦** に敗れた。

**僅差** で敗れた。

**接戦** だった。

（接戦を制した。=won the game)




惜しい＝close, almost (made it)

I do not think that 惜しい always has the disappointment connotation. It is just
the same as the English words, "close" and "almost." In many situations,
however, the disappointment connotation would be involved because "it was
_close_."

Other expressions would be:

**接戦** に敗れた。

**僅差** で敗れた。

**接戦** だった。

（接戦を制した。=won the game)

