1.
athletic ability; physical fitness; motor skills
The ability to perform physical activities effectively. Encompasses coordination, speed, strength, endurance, and other physical capabilities.
A compound of 運動 (exercise, movement) and 能力 (ability, capacity). Frequently appears in discussions about sports, education, and child development.
Common collocations
- 運動能力が高い/低い — to have high/low athletic ability
- 運動能力が優れている — to have excellent athletic ability
- 運動能力テスト — fitness test
- 運動能力の向上 — improvement of athletic ability
- 運動能力の低下 — decline in physical fitness
Related words
- 体力 — physical strength/stamina (more about endurance and raw physical power)
- 運動神経 — motor coordination; colloquially used to mean "being good/bad at sports"
- 身体能力 — physical ability (broader, includes non-sport contexts)
Usage
In Japanese schools, students take 体力テスト (運動能力テスト) — standardized fitness tests measuring grip strength, flexibility, running speed, and other metrics. Results are tracked nationally, and declining scores are a topic of public concern.