Volleyball, a sport that has gained immense popularity worldwide, is no exception in Japan. The Japanese take great pride in their volleyball teams and the sport itself. To truly understand and appreciate the game in Japan, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the Japanese vocabulary and terminology used in volleyball. This guide will help you navigate through the Japanese language’s unique expressions related to volleyball, making you sound like a seasoned pro on the court.
Basic Japanese Volleyball Vocabulary
Pronouns and Nouns
- ボール (bo-ru): Ball
- サブ (sa-bu): Substitute
- コーチ (ko-chi): Coach
- 選手 (sen-shu): Player
- 試合 (shi-ka): Match
- 勝利 (shouri): Victory
- 敗北 (bakku-ho): Defeat
- レシーブ (re-shi-bu): Reception
- アタック (a-ta-ku): Attack
- サーブ (sa-bu): Serve
- ブロック (bur-o-ku): Block
- ダッシュ (da-shu): Dash
Verbs
- 打つ (utsu): To hit
- 受け入れる (uke-ireru): To receive
- スパイク (sua-iku): To spike
- スロースペック (suro-supeku): To spike softly
- サーブを打つ (sa-bu wo utsu): To serve
- ブロックをかける (bur-o-ku wo kakeru): To block
- ダッシュする (da-shu suru): To dash
Advanced Japanese Volleyball Terminology
Techniques and Strategies
- オープンサークル (ou-pen sa-ku-ru): Open circuit
- シーソーレシーブ (shii-so re-shi-bu): See-saw reception
- フォアホイール (fo-a ho-i-ru): Fore wheel
- バックホイール (ba-ku ho-i-ru): Back wheel
- ハイレシーブ (hai re-shi-bu): High reception
- リバウンドサーブ (ri-bau-ndo sa-bu): Rebound serve
- ツーハンドスピック (tsu-hando su-iku): Two-hand spike
Special Terms
- エスカラート (esu-ka-ru-to): Escalator
- ドロップショット (dro-pu shot-to): Drop shot
- リベンジサーブ (ri-ben-ji sa-bu): Revenge serve
- ハイボール (hai bo-ru): High ball
- ミドルボール (mi-do-ru bo-ru): Middle ball
Japanese Volleyball Phrases
To enhance your communication skills on the volleyball court, here are some essential phrases:
- 勝負をかけます (shou-bou wo kake-masu): Let’s make it a match!
- お疲れ様でした (o tsukare-sou deshita): You’ve worked hard!
- おめでとうございます (o me-de-to gozaimasu): Congratulations!
- がんばってください (ga-nba-te kudasai): Please do your best!
- 次にでも勝ちましょう (tsugi ni demo kachi-ma-shou): Let’s win next time too!
Conclusion
Mastering the Japanese vocabulary and terminology of volleyball will not only help you communicate effectively with Japanese players and coaches but also deepen your appreciation for the sport in Japan. Whether you’re a player, coach, or simply a fan, expanding your knowledge of volleyball in the Japanese language will undoubtedly enhance your experience on and off the court. So, get ready to hit the court and show off your newfound Japanese volleyball vocabulary!