スポーツ

• Reading: スポーツ
• Romaji: supootsu
• Pronunciation: /sɯ.poː.tsɯ/

Meaning

Sport; sports. The general loanword for athletic activities and games.

A katakana loanword from English. Used broadly for all kinds of athletic activities. Common expressions include スポーツをする (to play sports), スポーツ選手 (athlete), and スポーツジム (sports gym). Japan has a strong sports culture with baseball, soccer, sumo, and martial arts being especially popular.

Examples

1. どんなスポーツが好きですか。 What kind of sports do you like?
2. 週末はよくスポーツをします。 I often play sports on weekends.
3. スポーツは体にいいです。 Sports are good for your health.

Usage Guide

Context: hobbies, exercise, conversation

Tone: energetic

Origin & History

Borrowed from English 'sports.' Entered Japanese during the Meiji era as Western athletic activities were introduced. The katakana spelling スポーツ became the standard Japanese word.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal