運動神経（うんどうしんけい、undoうshiんkei）
- motor nerves

The Japanese word 運動神経 運動神経 (うんどうしんけい) refers to "motor nerves" or, more commonly, "athleticism," "coordination," or "physical skill." It describes a person's ability to control their body movements effectively and efficiently, especially in sports or physical activities. It encompasses aspects like reaction time, balance, agility, and the ability to learn and perform complex movements. It's often used to describe someone who is naturally good at sports or physical tasks.

⚫︎彼は運動神経が良い。 Translation: He has good athleticism. ⚫︎子供の運動神経を伸ばすために、様々なスポーツを経験させることが重要です。 Translation: It is important to let children experience various sports in order to develop their physical skills. ⚫︎ 彼女は運動神経抜群だ。 Translation: She has outstanding coordination.

This word is frequently used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing sports, physical abilities, or the physical talents of children. It can be used to describe both natural talent and learned skills. It is also suitable for describing someone who is clumsy or awkward. It's often used to give compliments or to point out someone's physical prowess or lack thereof. When describing someone's physical performance, you could comment on someone's 運動神経.

運動神経 is typically written using kanji and hiragana, as in 運動神経. The reading is うんどうしんけい (hiragana). There are no common variations in okurigana for this word.

⚫︎ 身体能力 (しんたいのうりょく) - Physical ability ⚫︎ スポーツセンス - Athletic sense ⚫︎ 運動能力 (うんどうのうりょく) - Motor ability ⚫︎ 身体的な才能 (しんたいてきなさいのう) - Physical talent

While there isn't a direct antonym, words or phrases that imply a lack of physical skill or coordination could be considered opposites in meaning, such as: ⚫︎ 不器用 (ぶきよう) - Clumsy, awkward ⚫︎ 身体能力が低い (しんたいのうりょくがひくい) - Low physical ability

彼はバスケットボールが上手なので、運動神経が良いに違いない。 ・Translation: He must have good athleticism because he is good at basketball. ・Explanation: This sentence implies that the person's ability to play basketball well is a result of their good 運動神経.

子供の運動神経は、幼い頃からの様々な遊びや運動によって発達します。 ・Translation: A child's motor skills develop through various games and exercises from a young age. ・Explanation: This sentence emphasizes that a child's 運動神経 can be improved through physical activities.

The word 運動神経 is composed of two parts: ⚫︎ 運動 (うんどう), meaning "exercise," "movement," or "sports." ⚫︎ 神経 (しんけい), meaning "nerve" or "nervous system." Therefore, 運動神経 literally translates to "motor nerves," reflecting the connection between the nervous system and the ability to control and coordinate body movements.