1.
sumo ring
The circular clay platform where sumo wrestling bouts take place. Made of packed earth and marked with straw bales.
土俵に上がる。
To step onto the sumo ring.
力士が土俵の上で向き合った。
The sumo wrestlers faced each other on the ring.
横綱が土俵入りを行い、観客から大きな拍手が起きた。
The yokozuna performed the ring-entering ceremony, and the audience broke into loud applause.
2.
arena, playing field, stage for competition
Used figuratively to mean a place or context where competition or negotiation takes place.
まず同じ土俵に立つことが大事だ。
First, it's important to be on the same playing field.
交渉の土俵に乗る。
To enter the arena of negotiation.
相手の土俵で戦っては不利になるので、こちらの得意な分野に引き込もう。
Fighting on the opponent's turf puts us at a disadvantage, so let's draw them onto our territory.
CULTURE:
The 土俵 is the sacred ring of sumo. It is a raised clay platform approximately 4.55 meters in diameter. Women have traditionally been prohibited from entering the 土俵 due to Shinto purity customs, though this practice has been debated.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 土俵に上がる: to step into the ring
- 土俵入り: ring-entering ceremony
- 土俵際: the edge of the ring; last-minute (figurative)
- 同じ土俵に立つ: to be on the same playing field