Japanese · Body & Health
運動
undou
Exercise / Physical activity
Intermediatenoun
Definition
Physical activity for health or sport. Also means a movement or campaign in a social/political context.
Example
毎朝三十分運動しています。
I exercise for thirty minutes every morning.
Etymology
The word '運動' (undou) comes from '運' (un), meaning 'to carry' or 'to transport,' and '動' (dou), meaning 'to move.' It has historical roots in the concepts of movement and physical training in traditional Japan.
How & Where It’s Used
'運動' is used in both spoken and written forms, commonly in formal contexts such as schools, health clubs, and written materials about fitness. It's widely used across Japan in discussions about physical activity.