運動靴(うんどうぐつ)

運動靴(うんどうぐつ) is a compound of 運動(うんどう) (exercise) + 靴(くつ) (shoes). It covers sneakers, gym shoes, and athletic footwear generally.

Common collocations

• 運動靴(うんどうぐつ)を履(は)く: to wear sneakers/gym shoes
• 運動靴(うんどうぐつ)を洗(あら)う: to wash gym shoes
• 運動靴(うんどうぐつ)を買(か)う: to buy sneakers

Similar words

• スニーカー: sneakers (loanword; more casual/fashion-oriented)
• 上履(うわば)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(うんどうぐつ) often refers specifically to the white shoes worn for 体育(たいいく) (PE class). Outside school, スニーカー is more common for everyday casual athletic shoes.