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Training for a judo match with 稽古

Vocabulary Explanation: Training with 稽古

Manga panel from 俺物語!! showing example of Training for a judo match with 稽古.
俺物語!! » Volume 2 » Page 56

Members of the judo team plea for Takeo to help them in their upcoming match against a rival high school. Takeo quickly accepts their request, but Sunakawa considers how this will impact Takeo’s new relationship with Yamato.

砂川(すなかわ):
「おまえ試合(しあい)の稽古(けいこ)するんだったら　しばらく大和(やまと)さんに会えなくなっちゃうんじゃない？ １(いっ)か月(げつ)くらい？」
“When you're training for the match, won't you be unable to see Yamato for a while? For about a month.”

Here, 稽古(けいこ) is used to describe training for a judo match.

Key Points

  1. 稽古(けいこ) = “training” (specifically for martial arts / traditional arts)

    • 稽古(けいこ) refers to disciplined, structured training in martial arts and traditional arts.

    • Unlike 練習(れんしゅう) as general practice, 稽古(けいこ) emphasizes learning from past techniques and traditional methods.

    • Pattern: 試合(しあい)の稽古(けいこ)をする → “to train for a match”.

  2. Conditional form: ～するんだったら

    • ～んだったら is a casual conditional meaning “if you’re going to~” or “when you~”.

    • Here: 試合(しあい)の稽古(けいこ)するんだったら → “if you’re going to train for the match.”

  3. Negative potential + contraction: 会(あ)えなくなっちゃう

    • 会(あ)えなくなっちゃう is a casual contraction of 会(あ)えなくなってしまう.

    • Pattern: [potential negative form] + なる → “to become unable to~”.

    • The ちゃう (from てしまう) adds a sense of regret or unfortunate outcome.

  4. Seeking confirmation: じゃない？

    • じゃない？ at the end of a sentence seeks confirmation or agreement.

    • It’s casual and can be translated as “won’t you?” “don’t you think?” or “right?”

    • The speaker (Sunakawa) is prompting Takeo to consider the situation.

See Also