柔道（じゅうどう、juudoう）
- judo

柔道, or じゅうどう in hiragana, is a Japanese martial art and combat sport. It translates literally to "the gentle way" or "the yielding way." It emphasizes using an opponent's momentum and balance to defeat them. The goal is to throw, pin, or submit the opponent. It also aims to foster physical, mental, and moral development. It's not about brute strength but skillful technique and strategy. The spirit of 柔道 also includes respect, discipline, and mutual welfare.

⚫︎彼は子供の頃から柔道を習っています。 ・Translation: He has been practicing 柔道 since he was a child. ⚫︎柔道の試合を見に行くのが楽しみです。 ・Translation: I'm looking forward to going to watch a 柔道 match. ⚫︎柔道は心身を鍛えるのに良いスポーツです。 ・Translation: 柔道 is a good sport for training the mind and body.

You use 柔道 when talking about the martial art itself. You can talk about practicing 柔道, watching 柔道 competitions, or its philosophy and principles. It's suitable for various contexts, from casual conversations to more formal discussions about sports and martial arts.

⚫︎The word is primarily written using the kanji 柔道. ⚫︎The reading in hiragana is じゅうどう. ⚫︎It's not typically written in katakana. ⚫︎There are no variations in okurigana.

There are no direct synonyms for 柔道 in the way of interchangeable words. However, related terms could be used to describe aspects of 柔道: ⚫︎武道 (ぶどう - martial arts) ⚫︎格闘技 (かくとうぎ - combat sports)

There aren't direct antonyms, but you could consider contrasting activities: ⚫︎喧嘩 (けんか - fighting, brawl) - this is a direct contrast to the disciplined and rule-based nature of 柔道.

私は柔道の稽古を通して、礼儀作法を学びました。 ・Translation: Through my training in 柔道, I learned manners and etiquette. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the discipline and respect inherent in the practice of 柔道.

オリンピックで柔道の試合を観戦するのはいつもわくわくします。 ・Translation: I always get excited watching 柔道 matches at the Olympics. ・Explanation: This sentence refers to the excitement of observing competitive 柔道.

The word 柔道 is composed of two kanji: ⚫︎柔 (じゅう) - meaning "gentle," "flexible," or "yielding." ⚫︎道 (どう) - meaning "way," "path," or "principle." The founder of 柔道, Kano Jigoro, created the name to emphasize the philosophy of using the most efficient means (gentleness, yielding) to achieve victory, as opposed to solely relying on brute force.