预赛
yūsài · HSK 7
preliminary contest
🏁 预 yù = beforehand + 赛 sài = contest: the contest held beforehand
预 means before or in-advance (same 预 as 预习 preview); 赛 means race or match. A preliminary contest is the early round before the finals.
赛 — roof 宀 + 共 (together) + shell 貝
赛 originally meant offering thanks or recompense to spirits, written with 貝 (cowrie/money) suggesting tribute or payment. The upper part acts as the phonetic component. Over time the meaning shifted from ritual repayment to 'compete' or 'contest,' as in matches between rivals.