(どうじょう)

どうじょう
noun
dojo; training hall
1. dojo; training hall
A hall or space for practicing martial arts, traditional arts, or spiritual disciplines. Also used figuratively for any place of serious training or learning.
道場(どうじょう)稽古(けいこ)する。
To practice at the dojo.
(ちち)剣道(けんどう)道場(どうじょう)(ひら)いている。
My father runs a kendo dojo.
()どもの(ころ)から近所(きんじょ)柔道(じゅうどう)道場(どうじょう)(かよ)い、礼儀(れいぎ)技術(ぎじゅつ)(まな)んだ。
Since childhood, I attended the local judo dojo and learned manners and technique.

Literally "place of the way" ((みち) + (じょう)). Originally a Buddhist term for a place of practice, it became associated with martial arts training halls.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 道場(どうじょう)(かよ)う (attend a dojo)
  • 道場(どうじょう)(ひら)く (open a dojo)
  • 道場(どうじょう)(やぶ)り (challenging a dojo — showing up to fight its members)
  • 道場(どうじょう)(ぬし) (dojo master/owner)

The word has been borrowed into English as "dojo." It is used for 剣道(けんどう), 柔道(じゅうどう), 空手(からて), 合気道(あいきどう), and other martial arts. Figuratively, places of rigorous training in cooking, comedy, or other fields may be called 道場(どうじょう). Not to be confused with the homophone 同情(どうじょう) (sympathy).