Translation guide
The English word 'skating' can refer to several activities: ice skating, roller skating, inline skating, and skateboarding. In Japanese, different words are used for each. This guide helps you choose the right term based on the type of skating.
Moving on ice with ice skates, either as recreation or sport.
The most common and general term for ice skating. Can be used as a noun or with する to mean 'to skate'.
冬にスケートをしに行きませんか。
Would you like to go skating in winter?
彼女はスケートが上手です。
She is good at skating.
Specifically 'ice skating', used when distinction from other types is needed.
アイススケートの選手になりたい。
I want to become an ice skating athlete.
Moving on a hard surface with roller skates (four wheels in a rectangular arrangement).
The standard term for roller skating. Use with する for the activity.
子供の頃、よくローラースケートをした。
I used to roller skate a lot when I was a child.
Moving on inline skates (wheels in a single line), also known as rollerblading.
The term for inline skating. Often shortened to インライン in casual speech.
公園でインラインスケートを楽しむ人が多い。
Many people enjoy inline skating in the park.
Riding and performing tricks on a skateboard.
The word for skateboarding. Often abbreviated to スケボー in casual contexts.
彼は毎日スケートボードの練習をしている。
He practices skateboarding every day.
スケボーで階段を降りるのは危ない。
It's dangerous to go down stairs on a skateboard.
In Japanese, スケート (sukēto) almost always means ice skating. Using it for skateboarding will cause confusion. Use スケートボード or スケボー for skateboarding.
For all types, you can add する (suru) to the noun to mean 'to do [that activity]'. For example: スケートする (to ice skate), ローラースケートする (to roller skate).