1.
sneakers; gym shoes; athletic shoes
Shoes designed for physical activity, sports, or casual wear. In school contexts, often refers to the white shoes worn for PE class.
新しい運動靴を買った。
I bought new sneakers.
体育の授業には運動靴が必要だ。
Gym shoes are required for PE class.
山道を歩くなら、運動靴を履いたほうがいい。
If you're going to walk on mountain trails, you should wear sneakers.
運動靴 is a compound of 運動 (exercise) + 靴 (shoes). It covers sneakers, gym shoes, and athletic footwear generally.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 運動靴を履く: to wear sneakers/gym shoes
- 運動靴を洗う: to wash gym shoes
- 運動靴を買う: to buy sneakers
SIMILAR WORDS:
- スニーカー: sneakers (loanword; more casual/fashion-oriented)
- 上履き: indoor shoes (worn inside schools)
- シューズ: shoes (loanword; often in sports compounds like ランニングシューズ)
USAGE:
In school contexts, 運動靴 often refers specifically to the white shoes worn for 体育 (PE class). Outside school, スニーカー is more common for everyday casual athletic shoes.