How do you say "to exercise" in Japanese?

運動する

undō suru

Verb Kanji

In Japanese, "to exercise" is 運動する (undō suru).

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Pronunciation

運動する is written using kanji. Romanised as undō suru, it sounds roughly like "oo-n-doh-soo-roo" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

This verb 運動する combines two kanji: 運 (luck/transport) and 動 (movement), together meaning to exercise or move the body.

Example sentence

彼は上手に運動します。

Kare wa jouzu ni undō shimasu.

He to exercises well.

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How to remember 運動する

Movement is transportation of energy. Picture yourself moving and energizing your body through physical activity.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese verbs.

Questions about 運動する

How do you pronounce 運動する?

運動する is romanised as undō suru. Say it roughly like "oo-n-doh-soo-roo" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 運動する formal or casual?

運動する is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 運動する written in Japanese?

運動する is written using kanji. This verb 運動する combines two kanji: 運 (luck/transport) and 動 (movement), together meaning to exercise or move the body..

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"To exercise" in other languages

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