How to Say "Boxing" in Japanese

ボクシング

bokushingu[bo̞kɯ̟̊ɕĩŋɡɯ̟]

The English word "boxing" can be translated into Japanese as ボクシング (bokushingu). If unsure, use ボクシング. Wiktionary also lists 拳闘 (kentō).

Meaning: the sport of boxing (noun)

Ways to say it

“boxing” in Japanese
Japanese	Romanization (Wiktionary)	IPA
ボクシング	bokushingu	[bo̞kɯ̟̊ɕĩŋɡɯ̟] (narrow)
拳闘	kentō	[kẽ̞nto̞ː] (narrow)

The term refers to the sport of boxing.

The obsolete term 拳闘 is composed of the characters for 'fist' (拳) and 'fight/struggle' (闘), literally meaning 'fist fighting'.

ボクシング is the standard modern term used in everyday Japanese.

bokushingu

While ボクシング describes the sport, the word 拳 (fist) is the root of 空手道 (Karate), which literally means 'empty hand way'.
The term 拳闘 (kentō) was more common during the Meiji era when Western sports were first introduced to Japan as part of modernization efforts.
In Japanese sports media, boxing matches are often categorized as 格闘技 (kakutōgi), a broad term meaning 'fighting arts' that groups boxing with wrestling and judo.

ボクシングしてみたら？
Why not try boxing?
This sentence is useful for suggesting someone try the sport with ボクシング.
Tatoeba #10157890 by small_snow, translation #3420066 by CK
私はテレビでそのボクシングの試合を見た。
I saw the boxing match on television.
This sentence shows how to use ボクシング when talking about watching a match on television.
Tatoeba #159412 by bunbuku, translation #255111 by CK
ボクシングやホッケーのようなスポーツは好きではない。
I don't like such sports as boxing and hockey.
This sentence demonstrates how to use ボクシング when listing sports you do not like.
Tatoeba #196403 by bunbuku, translation #33583 by CK
彼はボクシングの選手です。
He is a boxer.
1 more sentence on Tatoeba

Yui and Hiroto are talking about their hobbies at a cafe.

結衣 Yui

最近、ボクシングに興味があるんだ。
Saikin, bokushingu ni kyoumi ga arunda.
Recently, I've been interested in boxing.
大翔 Hiroto

ボクシングを始めるつもりなの？
Bokushingu o hajimeru tsumori nano?
Are you planning to start boxing?
結衣 Yui

うん、ジムに通いたいと思っているよ。
Un, jimu ni kayoitai to omotte iru yo.
Yeah, I'm thinking about joining a gym.
大翔 Hiroto

それはかっこいいね！
Sore wa kakkoii ne!
That sounds cool!

Sources

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