テニス

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 週末は友達とテニスをします。▶ —
   I play tennis with a friend on weekends.
2. テニスコートの予約をしました。▶ —
   I reserved a tennis court.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Tenisu (テニス) is the katakana loan from English "tennis" — introduced from Britain and the US in late Meiji. Cluster: tenisu kooto (court), raketto (racket loanword). Japan-specific split: nanshiki tenisu (軟式テニス, soft tennis, with a rubber ball) vs koushiki tenisu (硬式テニス, hard / international tennis). Nanshiki, invented in Meiji Japan, became established as a school sport in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan; koushiki is the international standard for ATP / WTA, the Olympics, and the four Grand Slams (Australian, French, Wimbledon, US Open). Japanese middle and high schools play more nanshiki; university and pro circuits prefer koushiki. Japanese stars: Nishikori Kei (2014 US Open final), Osaka Naomi (US Open 2018 / 2020, Australian Open 2019 / 2021 — four Grand Slams). Japanese tennis's international standing has surged in the 21st century.

Quick check

1. Meiji-Japan tennis variant established in schools of Japan / Korea / Taiwan?

   • Nanshiki tenisu — soft tennis (rubber ball, Meiji Japan invention)
   • Koushiki tenisu — international hard tennis
   • Pinpon — table tennis
   • Badominton — badminton