‘预赛’ (yù sài) literally combines ‘预’ (yù), meaning ‘pre-’ or ‘before’, and ‘赛’ (sài), meaning ‘contest’ or ‘competition’. Together, it refers to an initial round of competition held before the main or final rounds—often used in sports, academic contests, talent shows, or any structured event with multiple stages. It functions as a screening mechanism to select top performers for advancement.

This term is formal yet common in everyday Chinese media and conversation when discussing organized competitions. It’s neutral in register and widely understood across age groups. Unlike informal terms like ‘海选’ (hǎi xuǎn, ‘open auditions’), ‘预赛’ implies a more structured, official first stage with defined rules and judging criteria. You’ll frequently see it on event schedules, news reports, and school announcements.