スポーツ
supōtsu[sɨ̥po̞ːt͡sɨ]
The English word sport is translated into Japanese as スポーツ (supōtsu). Wiktionary also lists 運動 (undō).
Meaning: any athletic activity that uses physical skills (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| スポーツ | supōtsu | [sɨ̥po̞ːt͡sɨ] (narrow) |
| 運動 | undō | [ɯ̟̃ndo̞ː] (narrow) |
In Japanese, the term for sport depends on whether you are referring to organized athletic competition or general physical activity. Use スポーツ to refer to organized competitive sports or specific athletic disciplines, such as 野球 (baseball), サッカー (soccer), テニス (tennis), 相撲 (sumo wrestling) or バスケットボール (basketball).
Which one should you use?
スポーツ is a loanword specifically used for organized competitive sports. In contrast, 運動 refers more generally to physical exercise or bodily movement.
How do you pronounce it?
supōtsu
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word 運動 can also be used to describe a political or social 'movement'. Depending on the context, a person might be participating in a 'sport' or a 'social movement'.
- Sumo is classified as a スポーツ today, but it is historically viewed as a religious ritual to ensure a good harvest.
- Japanese uses the word 道 (way) for traditional martial arts like 柔道 (judo) and 剣道 (kendo), framing them as spiritual paths rather than just スポーツ.
Examples in context
- スポーツに国境はない。Sport transcends borders.This sentence shows how sport can be described as transcending borders using スポーツ.Tatoeba #2278659 by tommy_san, translation #2457491 by CM
- スポーツをするのが好き。I like sport.This sentence expresses a preference for doing sport using スポーツ.Tatoeba #214326 by bunbuku, translation #51618 by adamtrousers
- 一番好きなスポーツは何？What sport do you like best?This sentence is a way to ask someone which sport is their favorite using スポーツ.Tatoeba #9294925 by bunbuku, translation #37589 by CK
- 友達と一緒にバスケットボールをするのが大好きです。I love playing basketball with my friends.
- 先週、テニスの試合を見に行きました。I went to watch a tennis match last week.
- 41 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their hobbies.
- 大翔 Hiroto最近、何かスポーツをしていますか？Saikin, nanika supōtsu o shite imasu ka?Have you been doing any sports lately?
- 陽葵 Himariいいえ、でもスポーツを見るのは好きです。Iie, demo supōtsu o miru no wa suki desu.No, but I like watching sports.
- 大翔 Hirotoどんなスポーツが好きですか？Donna supōtsu ga suki desu ka?What kind of sports do you like?
- 陽葵 Himariテニスなどのラケットスポーツが好きです。Tenisu nado no raketto supōtsu ga suki desu.I like racket sports, such as tennis.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sport” translations and entries スポーツ, 運動, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
