Japanese Conversation · Level 11
90 words
Japanese word
空手
Pronunciation
Romajikarate
Meaning
- nounkarate
Example
兄は空手が得意です。ani wa kara te ga toku i de su
My older brother is good at karate.
More examples
毎週土曜日に空手を習っています。mai shū do yō hi ni kara te o nara tte i ma su
I take karate lessons every Saturday.
Core concept
Describes a martial art in which controlled body movements develop both attack and defense without weapons.
Common phrases
空手をするkara te o su ru
practice karate
空手を習うkara te o nara u
learn karate
空手の試合kara te no shi ai
karate match
空手の練習kara te no ren shū
karate practice
Definition in Japanese
手足による攻撃と防御の技を身につける、武器を用いない日本の武道。te ashi ni yo ru kō geki to bō gyo no waza o mi ni tsu ke ru bu ki o mochi i na i nihon no bu dō
Word origin
空手 (karate, "empty hand") is formed from 空 (kara, "empty") and 手 (te, "hand"), a combination that highlights its unarmed practice.
Usage tips
- In English, karate is commonly used as an uncountable noun, as in "She studies karate," rather than usually referring to one individual technique.
Related words
- 空手家karatekakarate practitionernoun