Translation guide
A place where martial arts are practiced. In Japanese, 道場 (どうじょう) literally means 'place of the way' and is used for training halls for judo, karate, kendo, and other disciplines. It can also refer to a place for spiritual or meditative practice.
The most common meaning: a physical space for practicing martial arts like judo, karate, aikido, kendo, etc.
The standard term for a martial arts training hall. Used for both traditional and modern martial arts.
毎週火曜日に道場で柔道を練習しています。
I practice judo at the dojo every Tuesday.
この道場は空手の稽古に使われています。
This dojo is used for karate training.
Specifically a martial arts training hall, emphasizing the martial way (武道). Often used in official or formal contexts.
学校の武道場で剣道部が練習しています。
The kendo club practices in the school's martial arts hall.
A practice place, not limited to martial arts. Can be used for traditional arts like tea ceremony or dance. In martial arts contexts, it may refer to a training space, but 道場 is more common.
この稽古場では合気道を教えています。
They teach aikido at this practice hall.
A place for spiritual training, meditation, or religious practice, often associated with Buddhism.
Also used for a hall where spiritual disciplines like Zen meditation are practiced.
禅の道場で座禅を組みました。
I sat zazen at the Zen dojo.
A place for ascetic training or spiritual discipline. More general than 道場 and can refer to mountain retreats or temples.
山奥の修行場で滝に打たれる修行をしました。
I did training under a waterfall at a mountain ascetic practice place.
In modern Japanese slang, 道場 can be used metaphorically for a place where people gather to practice or improve a skill, like a coding dojo or a study group.
Used in names like 'プログラミング道場' (programming dojo) for coding bootcamps or workshops. This is a modern extension of the original meaning.
毎週土曜日にプログラミング道場に通っています。
I attend a programming dojo every Saturday.
In English, 'dojo' is specifically for martial arts. In Japanese, 道場 is not used for a fitness gym or sports club. Use ジム (gym) or 体育館 (たいいくかん, gymnasium) instead.
In English, 'dojo' is a loanword and is usually written in lowercase. It does not need italics. The Japanese word is 道場.