運動場(うんどうじょう)

うんどうじょう
noun
sports ground; playground; athletic field
1. sports ground; playground; athletic field
An open area designated for physical exercise, sports, or play. Commonly refers to school playgrounds or public athletic fields.
運動場(うんどうじょう)で走(はし)る。
To run on the sports ground.
子(こ)どもたちが運動場(うんどうじょう)でサッカーをしている。
The children are playing soccer on the playground.
運動会(うんどうかい)は学校(がっこう)の運動場(うんどうじょう)で行(おこな)われ、保護者(ほごしゃ)も大勢(おおぜい)集(あつ)まった。
The sports day was held on the school's athletic field, and many parents gathered as well.

A compound of 運動(うんどう) (exercise, sports) and 場(じょう) (place, ground). In Japanese schools, the 運動場(うんどうじょう) is the outdoor area used for PE classes, recess, and events like 運動会(うんどうかい) (sports day). In western Japan, the word 運動場(うんどうじょう) is common; in eastern Japan, 校庭(こうてい) (schoolyard) is often preferred for the school playground.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 学校(がっこう)の運動場(うんどうじょう): school athletic field
  • 運動場(うんどうじょう)で遊(あそ)ぶ: to play on the playground
  • 運動場(うんどうじょう)を走(はし)る: to run around the sports ground
  • 運動場(うんどうじょう)の整備(せいび): maintenance of the athletic field

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 校庭(こうてい): schoolyard — specifically a school's outdoor area; more common in eastern Japan
  • グラウンド: ground, field — loanword often used for sports fields, especially baseball and track
  • 競技場(きょうぎじょう): stadium, arena — a larger facility for competitive sports events
general
Added 2026.4.4 3:24
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