土俵(どひょう)

どひょう
noun
sumo ring; arena
sportculture
1. sumo ring
The circular clay platform where sumo wrestling bouts take place. Made of packed earth and marked with straw bales.
土俵(どひょう)に上(あ)がる。
To step onto the sumo ring.
力士(りきし)が土俵(どひょう)の上(うえ)で向(む)き合(あ)った。
The sumo wrestlers faced each other on the ring.
横綱(よこづな)が土俵(どひょう)入(い)りを行(おこな)い、観客(かんきゃく)から大(おお)きな拍手(はくしゅ)が起(お)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(おな)じ土俵(どひょう)に立(た)つことが大事(だいじ)だ。
First, it's important to be on the same playing field.
交渉(こうしょう)の土俵(どひょう)に乗(の)る。
To enter the arena of negotiation.
相手(あいて)の土俵(どひょう)で戦(たたか)っては不利(ふり)になるので、こちらの得意(とくい)な分野(ぶんや)に引(ひ)き込(こ)もう。
Fighting on the opponent's turf puts us at a disadvantage, so let's draw them onto our territory.

Cultural note

The 土俵(どひょう) 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(どひょう) due to Shinto purity customs, though this practice has been debated.

Common collocations

  • 土俵(どひょう)に上(あ)がる: to step into the ring
  • 土俵(どひょう)入(い)り: ring-entering ceremony
  • 土俵(どひょう)際(ぎわ): the edge of the ring; last-minute (figurative)
  • 同(おな)じ土俵(どひょう)に立(た)つ: to be on the same playing field

Related Words

Related: 相撲(すもう) (sumo wrestling)
general
Added 2026.2.19 20:47 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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