体育館

• Reading: たいいくかん
• Romaji: taiikukan
• Kanji breakdown: 体 (tai/karada) — body; 育 (iku/soda) — nurture, raise; 館 (kan) — hall, building
• Pronunciation: /ta.i.i.kɯ.kaɴ/

Meaning

Gymnasium. An indoor facility for physical education and sports activities.

A noun formed from 体育 (physical education) and 館 (hall, building). Every Japanese school from elementary through high school has a gymnasium used for PE classes, sports clubs, assemblies, and ceremonies. Municipal gymnasiums are also common in cities.

Examples

1. 体育館でバスケットボールをしました。 I played basketball in the gymnasium.
2. 今日の授業は体育館であります。 Today's class is in the gymnasium.
3. 体育館はあの建物の隣です。 The gymnasium is next to that building.

Usage Guide

Context: school, sports, physical education

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 体育 (physical education, from 体 'body' + 育 'nurture') and 館 (hall). The term became standard as physical education was formalised in the Japanese school system during the Meiji era.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal