(えんしゅう)

えんしゅう
noun, suru verb
exercise, drill, practice
1. military exercise, drill, maneuver
Practical training exercises conducted by military forces to prepare for real operations. Includes field exercises, war games, and joint maneuvers.
軍事(ぐんじ)演習(えんしゅう)(おこな)われた。
A military exercise was conducted.
合同(ごうどう)演習(えんしゅう)参加(さんか)する。
To participate in a joint exercise.
大規模(だいきぼ)防災(ぼうさい)演習(えんしゅう)実施(じっし)された。
A large-scale disaster preparedness drill was carried out.
2. seminar, practical exercise, workshop
An academic course or session focused on practical application and discussion rather than lectures. Common in university settings, similar to a seminar or lab session.
来週(らいしゅう)演習(えんしゅう)発表(はっぴょう)する。
I'll present at next week's seminar.
演習(えんしゅう)問題(もんだい)()く。
To solve practice problems.
この科目(かもく)講義(こうぎ)演習(えんしゅう)両方(りょうほう)がある。
This course has both lectures and practical sessions.

USAGE:
The two senses operate in very different domains. In news contexts, 演習(えんしゅう) almost always refers to military exercises. In academic contexts, it refers to a practical seminar-style class (as opposed to 講義(こうぎ), a lecture).

Also used for emergency drills (disaster preparedness, firefighting) when conducted on a large, organized scale.

Not to be confused with the homophone 円周(えんしゅう) (circumference).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 軍事(ぐんじ)演習(えんしゅう): military exercise
  • 合同(ごうどう)演習(えんしゅう): joint exercise
  • 防災(ぼうさい)演習(えんしゅう): disaster drill
  • 演習(えんしゅう)問題(もんだい): practice problem
  • 演習(えんしゅう)(りん): training forest (university forestry)