優勝チームにみんなで乾杯します。

Sentence Discussions Japanese
#1
English Translation

Everyone cheers for the winning team.

Hhhmm… I feel this should be 応援します, no?

#2

@Conor_JPN

  1. 優勝チームにみんなで応援します (your proposed sentence) is grammatically broken.

  2. 優勝チームをみんなで応援します is grammatically correct, but it means “We all root for the champion team of the past series/tournament.” In other words, the team became a champion last year, so everybody roots for the team as a defending champion this year. Now is in the midst of the series/season. And everybody doesn’t have a favorite team and is rooting only because the team is a defending champion (maybe for sports betting or something??)

  3. 優勝チームにみんなで乾杯します means “We are going to make a toast to the champion team of this year/season.” Unlike the second sentence, this third sentence (original Japanese sentence) suggests that the season/series is just over this year. And people are now preparing for a celebration party.

The English translation “winning team” is incorrect or at least misleading. 優勝チーム refers specifically to the champion of a series/season/tournament, which consists of multiple games/matches. On the other hand, a “winning team” can refer to a winner of a single game/match. Therefore, a “winning team” can even rank at the bottom of standings. A “winning team” should be 勝利チーム in Japanese.

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