卓球（たっきゅう、taっkyuu）
- table tennis

卓球 たっきゅう refers to the sport of table tennis. It's a game played by two or four players who hit a lightweight ball back and forth across a table using small rackets. The objective is to score points by hitting the ball in a way that the opponent cannot return it.

⚫︎卓球が上手ですね！ Translation: You're good at table tennis! ⚫︎週末は友達と卓球をします。 Translation: I'll play table tennis with my friends on the weekend. ⚫︎卓球の試合を見に行きましょう！ Translation: Let's go watch a table tennis match!

This word is used to talk about the sport itself, playing the sport, or watching it. It is a common word, especially when discussing sports or activities. You can use it in various contexts, from casual conversations to more formal discussions. You might use it when describing your hobby, discussing a sports event, or asking someone what they enjoy doing.

⚫︎The word is typically written as 卓球, using the kanji 卓 (taku, meaning "table") and 球 (kyuu, meaning "ball"). ⚫︎The reading is たっきゅう in hiragana. ⚫︎There is no okurigana variation.

There aren't many direct synonyms for 卓球. However, you could use phrases like: ⚫︎ピンポン (pinpon) - a more casual term, especially used by children, but can also be understood as table tennis. ⚫︎テーブルテニス (teeburu tenisu) - This is the katakana transliteration of the English word "table tennis." It's less commonly used than 卓球, but understood.

There are no specific antonyms for 卓球. It’s a noun that refers to a specific sport.

彼は卓球が大好きで、毎日練習しています。 ⚫︎Translation: He loves table tennis and practices every day. ⚫︎Explanation: This sentence describes someone's passion for 卓球 and their dedication to the sport.

新しいラケットを買って、もっと卓球が上手になりたいです。 ⚫︎Translation: I want to buy a new racket and get better at table tennis. ⚫︎Explanation: This sentence expresses a desire to improve skills in 卓球 and the actions someone is taking to achieve it.

The word 卓球 is a compound word. ⚫︎卓 (taku) means "table." ⚫︎球 (kyuu) means "ball." Therefore, 卓球 literally translates to "table ball," describing the essential elements of the game.