Japanese Sports Vocabulary: Words for Talking About Sports and Athletics

Sports and athletics are an integral part of Japanese culture, and having the vocabulary to discuss sports in Japanese can enhance your participation and enjoyment. In this blog post, we will explore common Japanese words for talking about sports and athletics. Let’s dive into the world of Japanese sports vocabulary!

  • General Sports Terms:
  • Supōtsu (スポーツ) – Sports
  • Undō (運動) – Exercise
  • Kyōgi (競技) – Competition or sport
  • Yakyū (野球) – Baseball
  • Sakkā (サッカー) – Soccer
  • Tenisu (テニス) – Tennis
  • Bāsukettobōru (バスケットボール) – Basketball
  • Vōru (ボール) – Ball
  • Kōshiki (公式) – Official
  • Sports Actions and Verbs:
  • Hashiru (走る) – Run
  • Tobu (飛ぶ) – Jump
  • Fumu (踏む) – Step or tread
  • Naguru (殴る) – Strike or hit
  • Nageru (投げる) – Throw
  • Mawasu (回す) – Rotate or spin
  • Korogaru (転がる) – Roll
  • Tateru (立てる) – Stand or raise
  • Tsukamu (掴む) – Grab or hold
  • Hiku (引く) – Pull
  • Sports Equipment:
  • Batto (バット) – Bat
  • Gōru (ゴール) – Goal
  • Yūjin (友人) – Teammate or companion
  • Kutsu (靴) – Shoes
  • Yakan (薬缶) – Water bottle
  • Jaketto (ジャケット) – Jacket
  • Gurobu (グローブ) – Glove
  • Pātsu (パーツ) – Equipment or parts
  • Yōgu (用具) – Sports equipment
  • Racketto (ラケット) – Racket
  • Sports Events and Competitions:
  • Senshuken (選手権) – Championship or tournament
  • Taikai (大会) – Tournament or competition
  • Sōdatsu (争奪) – Contest or rivalry
  • Kesshōsen (決勝戦) – Final match or championship game
  • Ekiden (駅伝) – Long-distance relay race
  • Sākuru (サークル) – Circle or club
  • Intāhai (インターハイ) – Inter-high school sports competition
  • Suponsā (スポンサー) – Sponsor
  • Tokuten (得点) – Score or point
  • Kōshiki jikan (公式時間) – Official time
  • Martial Arts:
  • Budō (武道) – Martial arts
  • Jūdō (柔道) – Judo
  • Karate (空手) – Karate
  • Kendō (剣道) – Kendo
  • Aikidō (合気道) – Aikido
  • Sumō (相撲) – Sumo wrestling
  • Kihon (基本) – Basics or fundamentals
  • Dōjō (道場) – Training hall or dojo
  • Sensei (先生) – Teacher or master
  • Rei (礼) – Bow or respect
  • Olympic Sports:
  • Rinjikai (臨時会) – Olympic Games
  • Ichi nichi senshuken (一日選手権) – One-day tournament
  • Yūshō (優勝) – Championship or victory
  • Furēmu (フレーム) – Frame (in bowling)
  • Seigan (正願) – Olympic rings
  • Norikae (乗り換え) – Transfer or change (in sports events)
  • Ōpuningu shā (オープニングシャー) – Opening ceremony
  • Kyūshū (急襲) – Sudden attack or blitz
  • Sūpu (スープ) – Soup (in swimming)
  • Yakyū gurūpu (野球グループ) – Baseball group or team

Conclusion: With these Japanese sports vocabulary words, you’ll be able to discuss and participate in sports activities with ease. Whether you’re talking about general sports terms, sports actions and verbs, sports equipment, sports events and competitions, martial arts, or Olympic sports, incorporating these words into your conversations will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of sports in Japanese culture. So, get active, engage in sports, and embrace the language of sports as you pursue a healthy and active lifestyle in Japan!

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Krisada Hemsoe

I'm Krisada, the creator of JLPT TUTOR. I created this site to share the path of my Japanese learning That I achieved my JLPT N1. You may struggle with Kanji , Grammar , Listening, reading and fail again and again. I know how you feel when you see "Not Pass" I want to share what I learnt in this past through this website. Hope you enjoy

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