Meaning and Usage
"スポーツ" refers to sports or athletic activities in general. It is a loanword from English and is widely used in everyday conversation and media. It covers a broad range of physical activities, from team games like soccer and baseball to individual exercises.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "スポーツ" when talking about hobbies, health, school activities, or international competitions like the Olympics. It can be combined with specific sports names (e.g., サッカーのスポーツ) or used alone to mean sports in general.
Collocations and Patterns
- スポーツクラブ: sports club, a place to practice sports
- スポーツ選手: sports athlete, a person who plays sports professionally or competitively
- スポーツ大会: sports competition or tournament
Register and Nuance
"スポーツ" is neutral and appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. It is more common than the native Japanese word "運動" when referring to organized sports or athletic activities.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "スポーツ" with "運動". While "運動" can mean any physical exercise including casual movement, "スポーツ" specifically implies organized or competitive sports activities. Use "スポーツ" when referring to games, competitions, or sports as a hobby.