活動

• Reading: かつどう
• Romaji: katsudou
• Kanji breakdown: 活 (katsu) — lively, active; 動 (dō) — move, motion
• Pronunciation: /ka.tsɯ.doː/

Meaning

Action; activity. Energetic engagement in some pursuit or organized effort.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (活動する). Covers a wide range of activities from club activities (クラブ活動) to social activism (社会活動) to volcanic activity (火山活動). Very commonly used in school contexts for extracurricular activities. Also appears in business as 営業活動 (sales activities) and 就職活動 (job hunting).

Examples

1. 学校でボランティア活動に参加している。 I'm participating in volunteer activities at school.
2. 就職活動は大変だけどがんばっている。 Job hunting is tough, but I'm doing my best.
3. 火山の活動が活発になっている。 Volcanic activity is becoming more intense.

Usage Guide

Context: school, work, community

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 活 (katsu, lively/active) and 動 (dō, move/motion). Together, 'lively movement' — dynamic engagement in purposeful action.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal