道場
dōjō[do̞ːʑo̞ː]
The English phrase 'dojo' is translated into Japanese as 道場 (dōjō).
A 道場 is a training facility for martial arts. In certain Buddhist contexts, the term can also refer to a place used for spiritual or religious training.
Meaning: training facility in martial arts (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the characters 道 (dō), meaning 'way' or 'path' and 場 (jō), meaning 'place'. Together, the Japanese script for 道場 translates literally to 'place of the way'.
How do you pronounce it?
dōjō
Did you know?
- The word 道場 was originally a translation of the Sanskrit term 'bodhimaṇḍa' which means 'seat of wisdom'.
- In Japan, the term 道場 is not limited to martial arts and is commonly used to describe specialized training spaces for other disciplines, such as calligraphy or tea ceremony.
- The physical act of cleaning the 道場 floor, known as sōji, is often considered a part of the training itself rather than a simple chore.
Examples in context
- 新しい道場はとても広いです。Atarashii dōjō wa totemo hiroi desu.The new dojo is very spacious.
- 放課後に道場へ行きます。Hōkago ni dōjō e ikimasu.I go to the dojo after school.
- この道場は歴史があります。Kono dōjō wa rekishi ga arimasu.This dojo has a lot of history.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their hobbies.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣さんは道場に行っていますか？Yui-san wa dōjō ni itte imasu ka?Yui, do you go to a dojo?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、毎週月曜日に行っています。Hai, maishū getsuyōbi ni itte imasu.Yes, I go every Monday.
- 大翔 Hirotoいいですね。どこの道場ですか？Ii desu ne. Doko no dōjō desu ka?That's nice. Which dojo is it?
- 結衣 Yui駅の近くにある道場です。Eki no chikaku ni aru dōjō desu.It's a dojo near the station.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dojo” translations and entries 道場, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 道場, CC BY-SA 4.0.
