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Japanese Baseball Vocabulary: 230+ Essential Words [FULL]
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Table of Contents
1. Basic Terms
2. Batting & Offense
3. Pitching & Defense
4. Positions
5. Scoring & Statistics
6. Slang & Common Phrases
7. Equipment & Gear
8. Umpires & Rules
Japanese baseball vocabulary is more than just sports terms, it’s a window into Japanese culture, teamwork, and passion for the game. Whether you’re watching Nippon Professional Baseball, chatting with Japanese fans, or preparing for study abroad, mastering these 230+ essential words will help you understand the sport like a native. Let’s dive in with Mazii!
Japanese Baseball Vocabulary: 230+ Essential Words [FULL]
Basic Terms
Kana |
Romaji |
Meaning |
野球 |
Yakyuu |
Baseball |
試合 |
Shiai |
Game |
選手 |
Senshu |
Player |
チーム |
Chiimu |
Team |
監督 |
Kantoku |
Manager |
コーチ |
Koochi |
Coach |
球場 |
Kyuujou |
Baseball stadium |
練習 |
Renshuu |
Practice |
シーズン |
Shiizun |
Season |
ペナントレース |
Penanto reesu |
Pennant race |
日本シリーズ |
Nihon shiiriizu |
Japan Series |
オールスター |
Oorusutaa |
All-Star Game |
ファン |
Fan |
Fan |
応援 |
Ouen |
Cheering |
スコアボード |
Sukoa boodo |
Scoreboard |
グラウンド |
Guraundo |
Field |
内野 |
Naiya |
Infield |
外野 |
Gaiya |
Outfield |
マウンド |
Mando |
Mound |
ホームベース |
Houmu beesu |
Home plate |
一塁 |
Ichirui |
First base |
二塁 |
Nirui |
Second base |
三塁 |
Sanrui |
Third base |
ベンチ |
Benchi |
Dugout |
ブルペン |
Burupen |
Bullpen |
延長戦 |
Enchousen |
Extra innings |
満塁 |
Manrui |
Bases loaded |
交流戦 |
Kouryuusen |
Interleague play |
優勝 |
Yuushou |
Championship |
敗北 |
Haiboku |
Defeat |
引き分け |
Hikiwake |
Tie |
決勝戦 |
Kesshousen |
Final game |
開幕戦 |
Kaimakusen |
Opening game |
ヒーローインタビュー |
Hiiroo intabyuu |
Hero interview |
プロ野球 |
Puro yakyuu |
Professional baseball |
アマチュア野球 |
Amachua yakyuu |
Amateur baseball |
高校野球 |
Koukou yakyuu |
High school baseball |
独立リーグ |
Dokuritsu riigu |
Independent league |
Batting & Offense
Kana |
Romaji |
Meaning |
バッター |
Battaa |
Batter |
打者 |
Dasha |
Hitter |
打席 |
Daseki |
At-bat |
打つ |
Utsu |
To hit |
ホームラン |
Houmurun |
Home run |
ヒット |
Hitto |
Hit |
シングルヒット |
Shinguru hitto |
Single |
ツーベースヒット |
Tsuu beesu hitto |
Double |
スリーベースヒット |
Surii beesu hitto |
Triple |
タイムリーヒット |
Taimurii hitto |
Timely hit |
ランナー |
Rannaa |
Runner |
盗塁 |
Tourui |
Stolen base |
バント |
Banto |
Bunt |
送りバント |
Okuri banto |
Sacrifice bunt |
スクイズ |
Sukuizu |
Squeeze play |
デッドボール |
Deddo booru |
Hit by pitch (HBP) |
三振 |
Sanshin |
Strikeout |
四球 |
Shikyuu |
Walk / Base on balls (BB) |
フォアボール |
Foaa booru |
Walk / Base on balls (BB) |
申告敬遠 |
Shinkoku keien |
Intentional walk |
打点 |
Daten |
RBI (Runs Batted In) |
打率 |
Daritsu |
Batting average |
出塁率 |
Shutsuritsu |
On-base percentage (OBP) |
長打率 |
Choudaritsu |
Slugging percentage (SLG) |
出塁 |
Shutsurui |
To get on base |
満塁ホームラン |
Manrui houmurun |
Grand slam |
サヨナラホームラン |
Sayonara houmurun |
Walk-off home run |
サヨナラヒット |
Sayonara hitto |
Walk-off hit |
サイクルヒット |
Saikuru hitto |
Cycle (hitting for the cycle) |
バッティングフォーム |
Battingu foomu |
Batting form |
右打ち |
Migiuchi |
Hitting to the right side (for a right-handed batter) |
左打ち |
Hidariuchi |
Hitting to the left side (for a right-handed batter) |
犠牲フライ |
Gisei furai |
Sacrifice fly |
犠牲打 |
Giseida |
Sacrifice hit |
内野ゴロ |
Naiya goro |
Infield grounder |
外野フライ |
Gaiya furai |
Outfield fly ball |
ポップフライ |
Poppu furai |
Pop fly |
打ち損じ |
Uchi sonji |
Missed hit |
空振り |
Karaburi |
Swing and a miss |
見逃し |
Minogashi |
Called strike |
振り逃げ |
Furinige |
Dropped third strike |
Pitching & Defense
Kana |
Romaji |
Meaning |
ピッチャー |
Picchaa |
Pitcher |
投手 |
Toushu |
Pitcher |
投げる |
Nageru |
To pitch / to throw |
ストライク |
Sutoraiku |
Strike |
ボール |
Booru |
Ball |
ストライクゾーン |
Sutoraiku zoon |
Strike zone |
変化球 |
Henkaky |
Breaking ball |
速球 |
Sokkyuu |
Fastball |
カーブ |
Kaabu |
Curveball |
スライダー |
Suraidaa |
Slider |
フォーク |
Fooku |
Forkball |
チェンジアップ |
Chenji appu |
Changeup |
シュート |
Shuuto |
Sinker / Shooting fastball |
コントロール |
Kontorooru |
Control |
制球 |
Seikyuu |
Command / Control |
防御率 |
Bougyoritsu |
ERA (Earned Run Average) |
完投 |
Kantou |
Complete game |
完封 |
Kanpuu |
Shutout |
セーブ |
Seebu |
Save |
ホールド |
Hoorudo |
Hold |
勝ち投手 |
Kachitoushu |
Winning pitcher |
負け投手 |
Maketoushu |
Losing pitcher |
中継ぎ |
Nakatsugi |
Middle reliever |
抑え |
Osae |
Closer |
継投 |
Keitou |
Pitching rotation / Relieving |
牽制 |
Kensei |
Pickoff throw |
暴投 |
Boutou |
Wild pitch |
押し出し |
Oshidashi |
Walk-in run |
捕手 |
Hosyu |
Catcher |
キャッチャー |
Kyacchaa |
Catcher |
守備 |
Syubi |
Fielding / Defense |
エラー |
Eraa |
Error |
併殺 |
Heisatsu |
Double play |
ダブルプレー |
Daburu puree |
Double play |
三重殺 |
Sanjuusatsu |
Triple play |
トリプルプレー |
Toripuru puree |
Triple play |
送球 |
Soukyuu |
Throw (from a fielder) |
補殺 |
Hosatsu |
Assist |
捕殺 |
Hosatsu |
Putout |
ファインプレー |
Fain puree |
Fine play / Great defensive play |
好守 |
Koushu |
Good defense |
守備位置 |
Syubi ichi |
Fielding position |
守備固め |
Syubigatame |
Defensive substitution |
盗塁阻止 |
Tourui soshi |
Preventing a stolen base |
ランナーコーチ |
Rannaa koochi |
Base coach |
Positions
Kana |
Romaji |
Meaning |
投手 |
Toushu |
Pitcher (P) |
捕手 |
Hosyu |
Catcher (C) |
一塁手 |
Ichiruishu |
First baseman (1B) |
二塁手 |
Niruishu |
Second baseman (2B) |
三塁手 |
Sanruishu |
Third baseman (3B) |
遊撃手 |
Yuugekishu |
Shortstop (SS) |
内野手 |
Naiyashu |
Infielder |
左翼手 |
Sayokushu |
Left fielder (LF) |
中堅手 |
Chuukenshu |
Center fielder (CF) |
右翼手 |
Uyokushu |
Right fielder (RF) |
外野手 |
Gaiyashu |
Outfielder |
指名打者 |
Shimei dasya |
Designated hitter (DH) |
代打 |
Daida |
Pinch hitter |
代走 |
Daisou |
Pinch runner |
控え選手 |
Hikae senshu |
Reserve player |
Scoring & Statistics
Kana |
Romaji |
Meaning |
得点 |
Tokuten |
Run / Score |
失点 |
Shitten |
Run allowed |
自責点 |
Jiseki ten |
Earned run |
打点 |
Daten |
RBI (Runs Batted In) |
打率 |
Daritsu |
Batting average |
勝利 |
Shouji |
Win |
敗北 |
Haiboku |
Loss |
引き分け |
Hikiwake |
Tie |
勝利投手 |
Shouji toushu |
Winning pitcher |
敗戦投手 |
Haisen toushu |
Losing pitcher |
盗塁数 |
Tourui suu |
Number of stolen bases |
勝利数 |
Shouji suu |
Number of wins |
敗戦数 |
Haisen suu |
Number of losses |
貯金 |
Chokin |
Wins over .500 |
借金 |
Shakkin |
Losses under .500 |
奪三振 |
Datsusanshin |
Strikeouts (by a pitcher) |
与四球 |
Yo shikyuu |
Walks allowed |
投球回 |
Toukyuu kai |
Innings pitched |
守備率 |
Shubiritsu |
Fielding percentage |
刺殺 |
Sassisatsu |
Putouts |
補殺 |
Hosatsu |
Assists |
Slang & Common Phrases
Kana |
Romaji |
Meaning |
サヨナラ |
Sayonara |
Walk-off (literally "goodbye") |
ゲッツー |
Gettsuu |
Double play (short for ダブルプレー) |
満 |
Man |
Bases loaded (short for 満塁) |
カミソリシュート |
Kamisori shuuto |
Razor-sharp sinker |
スポニチ |
Suponichi |
Sports Nippon (a major sports newspaper) |
ドラフト |
Dorafuto |
Draft |
育成選手 |
Ikusei senshu |
Developmental player |
契約更改 |
Keiyaku koukai |
Contract renewal |
引退 |
Intai |
Retirement |
代打の神様 |
Daida no kamisama |
God of pinch hitters |
怪物 |
Kaibutsu |
Monster (a term for a great player) |
エース |
Eesu |
Ace pitcher |
クローザー |
Kuroozaa |
Closer |
セットアッパー |
Setto appaa |
Setup man |
中継ぎエース |
Nakatsugi eesu |
Ace reliever |
打点王 |
Datenou |
RBI champion |
本塁打王 |
Honruidaou |
Home run champion |
首位打者 |
Shuui dasha |
Batting champion |
最多勝 |
Saitashou |
Most wins (for a pitcher) |
最多セーブ |
Saitaseebu |
Most saves |
完全試合 |
Kanzen jiai |
Perfect game |
ノーヒットノーラン |
Noo hitto noo ran |
No-hitter |
敬遠 |
Keien |
Intentional walk |
デッドボール |
Deddo booru |
Hit by pitch |
プロ入り |
Puro iri |
Turning professional |
大リーグ |
Dai riigu |
Major League Baseball (MLB) |
メジャー |
Mejyaa |
Major Leagues |
Equipment & Gear
Kana |
Romaji |
Meaning |
バット |
Batto |
Bat |
グローブ |
Guroobu |
Glove |
グラブ |
Gurabu |
Glove |
ボール |
Booru |
Ball |
ヘルメット |
Herumetto |
Helmet |
ユニフォーム |
Yunifoomu |
Uniform |
スパイク |
Supaiku |
Cleats |
キャッチャーミット |
Kyacchaa mitto |
Catcher's mitt |
プロテクター |
Purotekutaa |
Protector (catcher's gear) |
レガース |
Regaasu |
Shin guards (catcher's gear) |
バッティンググローブ |
Battingu guroobu |
Batting gloves |
リストバンド |
Risuto bando |
Wristband |
アイブラック |
Ai burakku |
Eye black |
Umpires & Rules
Kana |
Romaji |
Meaning |
審判 |
Shinpan |
Umpire |
主審 |
Shushin |
Home plate umpire |
塁審 |
Ruishin |
Base umpire |
ルール |
Ruuru |
Rules |
ストライク |
Sutoraiku |
Strike |
ボール |
Booru |
Ball |
アウト |
Auto |
Out |
セーフ |
Seefu |
Safe |
フェア |
Fea |
Fair ball |
ファール |
Faaru |
Foul ball |
走塁妨害 |
Sourui bougai |
Obstruction |
守備妨害 |
Syubi bougai |
Interference |
判定 |
Hantei |
Umpire's call / Judgement |
試合中断 |
Shiai chuudan |
Game suspension |
没収試合 |
Bosshuu shiai |
Forfeit game |
コールドゲーム |
Koorudo geemu |
Called game |
By learning this comprehensive set of Japanese baseball vocabulary, you’ll not only enjoy games, learning with deeper understanding but also connect with fans, players, and coaches on a whole new level.
=> Visit the Mizii website or download the Mizii app from the App Store or Google Play today and start learn Japanese baseball vocabulary!
>> Read more:
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