空手
karate[ka̠ɾa̠te̞]
The English phrase "karate" is translated into Japanese as 空手. If unsure, use 空手. Wiktionary also lists 空手道 (karatedō).
Meaning: martial art (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 空手 | karate | [ka̠ɾa̠te̞] (narrow) |
| 空手道 | karatedō |
The term refers to the martial art. While 空手 is the standard way to name the art, you can also use 空手道 to emphasize the discipline and philosophical path of the practice.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 空手 is composed of the characters for "empty" (空) and "hand" (手), literally meaning "empty hand".
Which one should you use?
空手 (karate) refers to the martial art itself, whereas 空手道 (karatedō) adds the suffix for "the way" or "the path" (道), which places more emphasis on the philosophical aspects of the discipline.
How do you pronounce it?
karate
Did you know?
- The original meaning of karate was 'Chinese hand', referring to the art's origins in the Tang Dynasty. The characters were later changed to mean 'empty hand' to emphasize the unarmed nature of the practice.
- In Japanese culture, the 'empty' in karate also carries a Zen Buddhist connotation of emptying the mind of distractions and ego.
- Practitioners of karate often begin and end their sessions with a formal bow, called rei, to show respect to their teacher and the training space.
Examples in context
- 趣味は空手と書道です。My hobbies are karate and calligraphy.This sentence is useful for mentioning karate as a hobby.Tatoeba #3400726 by tommy_san, translation #7766730 by metcaslix
- ぼくは、空手部に所属しています。I belong to the karate club.This sentence is useful for stating which club you belong to.Tatoeba #196372 by small_snow, translation #33550 by CK
- 空手が趣味だとは意外だな。いつもかわいらしい服を着た女の子なのに。I was surprised that her hobby was karate. She always wears cute clothes.This sentence is useful for expressing surprise about someone's hobby being karate.Tatoeba #1134600 by bunbuku, translation #2674313 by WestofEden
- 空手の基本を理解する必要があります。You need to understand the basics of karate.
- 君、空手やってるんだって？I heard you do karate!
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their hobbies at a cafe.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣さんは何か習っていることはある？Yui-san wa nani ka naratte iru koto wa aru?Yui, is there anything you are learning?
- 結衣 Yui空手を習っています。大翔さんは？Karate o naratte imasu. Hiroto-san wa?I am learning karate. How about you, Hiroto?
- 大翔 Hiroto僕は空手は一度もやったことがないよ。Boku wa karate wa ichido mo yatta koto ga nai yo.I have never done karate once.
- 結衣 Yui本当？すごくかっこいいのにね。Hontou? Sugoku kakkoii noni ne.Really? Even though it's so cool.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “karate” translations and entries 空手, 空手道, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 空手, 空手道, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
