Translation guide
In combat sports, a technical knockout (TKO) is when the referee stops the fight because a fighter cannot safely continue, even if they haven't been knocked unconscious. This guide covers how to express this concept naturally in Japanese.
To refer to a technical knockout in boxing, MMA, or similar sports, where the referee stops the fight.
The standard loanword for 'technical knockout', widely understood in Japanese combat sports contexts.
彼はテクニカルノックアウトで勝った。
He won by technical knockout.
The abbreviation TKO is commonly used in Japanese sports media, pronounced as English letters.
試合はTKOで終わった。
The match ended in a TKO.
Literally 'referee stop', this term is often used interchangeably with TKO when the referee intervenes.
レフェリーストップで試合が止められた。
The fight was stopped by referee stoppage.