How to say "tennis" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe katakana loanword for the sport of tennis; this is the word you use in ordinary conversation and writing, whether talking about a match, practice, or a school tennis club.１日中テニスをしていたのだから。↗He was playing tennis all day.
- 庭球ていきゅうnounThe kanji-written synonym for tennis, a coinage from 'lawn' and 'ball'; it denotes the same sport but is met mainly in formal writing and official names, so テニス is the safer choice in speech.
Both words name the sport of tennis: use 「テニス」, the katakana loanword, in everyday speech and writing, while 庭球, the kanji term, appears chiefly in formal writing and official names.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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