Translation guide
The English word 'practising' (or 'practicing' in US English) refers to the act of repeatedly doing an activity to improve a skill, or to the ongoing professional activity of a doctor, lawyer, etc. This guide helps learners express these concepts naturally in Japanese.
Expressing the act of doing something repeatedly to get better at it, such as a sport, musical instrument, or language.
I need more practice. · She's practising the violin. · Practice makes perfect.
The most common and general word for 'practice' as a noun or suru-verb. Use 練習する for 'to practice'.
毎日ピアノを練習しています。
I practice piano every day.
もっと練習が必要だ。
I need more practice.
Specifically used for practice in traditional Japanese arts, such as martial arts, tea ceremony, flower arranging, or traditional dance. Often implies learning from a teacher.
毎週土曜日に茶道の稽古があります。
I have tea ceremony practice every Saturday.
Refers to training or drill, often in a more formal, systematic, or professional context, such as military training, job training, or athletic conditioning.
消防士は毎日厳しい訓練を受けている。
Firefighters undergo rigorous training every day.
Means putting theory into practice, or practical application. Not used for repetitive skill drills, but for implementing knowledge in real situations.
学んだことを実践することが大切です。
It's important to put what you've learned into practice.
Referring to the ongoing work of a professional such as a doctor, lawyer, or accountant.
She's a practising lawyer. · He practises medicine in a small town.
Literally 'has opened a practice', used to describe a doctor, lawyer, etc. who runs their own clinic or office. Often used in the form 〜を開業している.
彼女は東京で弁護士を開業している。
She is practising law in Tokyo.
A more casual way to say 'working as a doctor'. Can be used for any professional by replacing 医者 with the profession name.
兄は地元で医者をしています。
My older brother is practising medicine in our hometown.
A general pattern meaning 'working as a ~'. Not specific to practising a profession, but commonly used.
彼は弁護士として働いています。
He works as a lawyer.
Practising for a play, concert, dance recital, or other stage performance.
Loanword from English 'rehearsal'. Commonly used for stage, music, and TV productions. Often abbreviated to リハ in casual speech.
明日は舞台のリハーサルがあります。
We have a stage rehearsal tomorrow.
リハは午後からです。
Rehearsal is from the afternoon.
Also used for rehearsals, but more general. リハーサル is preferred for final run-throughs before a show.
While 練習 means practice in the sense of skill improvement, it is not used for a doctor or lawyer's professional work. Use 開業している or 〜をしている instead.
練習 is general practice for sports, music, studies, etc. 稽古 is specifically for traditional Japanese arts and implies a master-student relationship. Using 稽古 for piano practice would sound odd unless it's traditional Japanese music.
ダンスの練習をしています。
I'm practising my dance routine.