Several parts combine into one character.

勝 is a phono-semantic character: 力 (strength) for meaning and 朕 (I) for sound. From applying strength (力) to endure and overcome grew "to win, to excel, to endure." One account traces it from lifting and bearing something heavy.

The simplified form is 胜, with the left side greatly changed to 月 (肉) + 生 — the result of merging with a separate character 胜 meaning "rank (smell)," so it looks nothing like traditional 勝. The form splits sharply by mode.

Korean hanja-sound "seung": 勝利 (seungni, victory), 勝負 (seungbu, a match / contest), 優勝 (useung, championship), 勝敗 (seungpae, victory or defeat), 名勝 (myeongseung, a scenic spot), 連勝 (yeonseung, a winning streak), 決勝 (gyeolseung, the final). It pairs with 敗 (to lose) — 勝敗 (seungpae).

Mandarin: shèng, 4th tone. 胜利 (shènglì, victory), 胜负 (shèngfù, victory or defeat), 战胜 (zhànshèng, to defeat), 名胜 (míngshèng, a scenic spot), 优胜 (yōushèng, superior win). Japanese: on-reading ショウ (shō), kun か.つ (katsu) and まさ.る (masaru). 勝利 (shōri, victory), 優勝 (yūshō, championship), 勝負 (shōbu, a match), 勝つ (katsu, to win), 勝手 (katte, selfish / as one pleases). 勝つ (katsu, to win) is used daily in sports and contests.

Memory aid: applying strength (力) to endure and win — a character that splits into traditional 勝 / simplified 胜.