How to say "sprint" in Japanese

• 疾走しっそうCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers sprint in the sense of running at top speed, often a dash over a short distance; it describes the act of dashing itself, as in animals or people sprinting away.
  １台だいのトラックが道路どうろを疾走しっそうしていた。↗

  A truck was careering along the road.
• スプリントCommon
  nounThe loanword for sprint, used for the athletic event or training sprint; the natural choice when referring to sprinting as a sport or exercise.
• かけっこJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbA colloquial word for a footrace or sprint, typically the informal races children run; it names the race itself rather than the running, so it is not the word for the act of sprinting.
• 競走きょうそうCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCenters on racing, running in competition with others, as in horse racing or track races; it is really 'race' rather than 'sprint', so it suits only contexts where sprinting is a competitive race.
  ゆっくりで着実ちゃくじつなのが競走きょうそうに勝かつ。↗

  Slow and steady wins the race.

Use 「スプリント」 for the athletic sprint event, 疾走 for a fast dash or run, 「かけっこ」 for casual children's footraces, and 競走 for racing in the sense of competing in a race.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 疾走しっそうsprint
• スプリントsprint
• かけっこ(foot) race
• 競走きょうそうrace
• 短距離競走たんきょりきょうそうshort-distance race
• 短距離走たんきょりそうshort-distance race