ストレッチ

From English "stretch." In Japanese, ストレッチ primarily refers to stretching exercises done for health and flexibility, not the general act of stretching something.

Common patterns

• ストレッチをする: to do stretching exercises
• ストレッチ体操(たいそう): stretching exercises (formal term)
• ストレッチを行(おこな)う: to perform stretches (formal)

Common collocations

• 準備(じゅんび)ストレッチ: warm-up stretches
• ストレッチ素材(そざい): stretch material/fabric
• ストレッチパンツ: stretch pants

Usage

Often used in fitness and health contexts. Japanese people commonly associate ストレッチ with the stretching done before and after exercise, ヨガ, or as part of a daily health routine. The word also appears in fashion for stretchy fabrics (ストレッチ素材(そざい)).

Similar words

• 柔軟(じゅうなん)体操(たいそう): flexibility exercises (more traditional/formal term)
• 準備(じゅんび)運動(うんどう): warm-up exercises (broader term)