N4 · 40 words

Sport and games

Matches, players, winning and losing, training and the sports people play.

Japanese does not choose between "play", "do" and "go" for a sport: almost every one takes する — サッカーをする, 柔道(じゅうどう)をする, ゴルフをする. The particles around winning and losing are worth learning as a pair: you win or lose against someone with に (相手(あいて)に勝(か)つ), and a match you win or lose also takes に (試合(しあい)に負(ま)ける).

The words

Verb (6)

勝つto winVerbN4

私(わたし)たちのチームが三対一(さんたいいち)で勝(か)ちました。Our team won three to one.

With に for the opponent or the match.

負けるto loseVerbN4

昨日(きのう)の試合(しあい)に負(ま)けて、とても悔(くや)しかったです。We lost yesterday's match, and I was really frustrated.

泳ぐto swimVerbN5

海(うみ)で泳(およ)ぐのが大好(だいす)きです。I love swimming in the sea.

投げるto throwVerbN4

ボールを強(つよ)く投(な)げてください。Please throw the ball hard.

打つto hitVerbN4

あの選手(せんしゅ)はよくホームランを打(う)ちます。That player often hits home runs.

蹴るto kickVerbN4

ボールを思(おも)い切(き)り蹴(け)りました。I kicked the ball as hard as I could.

This list belongs to Free time, plans and sport — seven lists and 281 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.