スポーツ
彼はスポーツが得意です。
He is good at sports.
Physical activities or games involving skill, competition, or physical exertion, often with rules and organized structures.
彼女はスポーツを通して健康を維持しています。
She maintains her health through sports.
学校では様々なスポーツを行います。
We participate in various sports at school.
スポーツ can refer to both individual and team sports, as well as competitive and recreational activities.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguishing between 運動 and スポーツ
While both words can translate to 'exercise' or 'sports,' 運動 (undō) refers more broadly to physical activity or exercise (e.g., 朝の運動 morning exercise), whereas スポーツ (supōtsu) specifically refers to organized sports or athletic competitions. For example, 'playing soccer' is サッカーをする (sakkā o suru), not 運動をする (undō o suru).
Gold Rule
Using スポーツ in sentences
スポーツ is a noun and typically requires a verb like する (suru, to do) to indicate action. For example, 'I play sports' is スポーツをします (supōtsu o shimasu). Avoid using スポーツ as a verb directly (e.g., not 'スポーツする').
Word Origin
Derived from the English word 'sports,' which itself comes from the Old French 'desport' meaning 'pleasure, amusement, pastime.' The term was adopted into Japanese during the Meiji era (late 19th century) as part of modernization efforts to describe Western-style athletic activities.
Usage Notes
スポーツ is a broad term that includes both traditional Japanese sports (e.g., 柔道 judo, 相撲 sumo) and Western sports (e.g., サッカー soccer, テニス tennis). It is commonly used in educational, recreational, and professional contexts. The term can also be used metaphorically, as in 'スポーツカー' (sports car).