Translation guide
The sport of tennis. In Japanese, the word is a loanword from English, so it's straightforward. However, there are some nuances in usage, especially in compound words and verbs.
Referring to the game of tennis in general.
The standard word for tennis. Used in all contexts.
I play tennis on weekends.
Do you like tennis?
A formal or literary term for tennis, literally 'court ball'. Rarely used in everyday speech.
I joined the tennis club. (formal)
Expressing the action of playing tennis.
Using 'tennis' to modify another noun, like 'tennis ball' or 'tennis court'.
Use の to connect テニス with another noun. This is the most common pattern.
I went to watch a tennis match.
I bought a tennis racket.
A compound word for 'tennis court'. Note that it's a single word, not two separate words.
A compound word for 'tennis ball'.
I reserved a tennis court.
The tennis balls got old.