Translation guide
A sports match played for display, practice, or charity rather than as part of an official competition. In Japanese, the most common term is エキシビションゲーム, a direct loanword. Other expressions exist for specific contexts like practice matches or charity events.
A match played for display, entertainment, or promotional purposes, not part of a regular season or tournament.
The most direct and widely understood term, borrowed from English. Used in professional sports contexts.
今夜のエキシビションゲームは楽しみですね。
I'm looking forward to tonight's exhibition game.
Also a loanword, interchangeable with エキシビションゲーム. Slightly less common but still natural.
引退選手のエキシビションマッチが行われた。
An exhibition match for retired players was held.
Literally 'public match'. Can be used for exhibition games open to the public, but is less specific and not common in sports contexts.
その公開試合はチャリティーのために開かれた。
The public match was held for charity.
A match played for practice, preparation, or to test players, often before a season starts.
Literally 'practice match'. The standard term for a friendly or practice game between teams, not part of official competition.
明日は隣の高校と練習試合がある。
We have a practice match with the neighboring high school tomorrow.
Used mainly in baseball for pre-season exhibition games. Literally 'open game'.
Loanword for 'pre-season match'. Used in some sports like soccer or basketball.
このプレシーズンマッチで新戦力を試す。
We'll test the new players in this pre-season match.
A match organized for charity, fundraising, or a special occasion, often featuring celebrities or retired players.
Loanword for 'charity match'. Commonly used when the game is for fundraising.
有名選手がチャリティーマッチに参加した。
Famous players participated in the charity match.
Native Japanese term for 'charity match'. Less common than the loanword, but still understood.
慈善試合の収益は被災地に寄付された。
The proceeds from the charity match were donated to the disaster area.
エキシビションゲーム is used for professional or promotional exhibition matches, while 練習試合 is a practice match, often at amateur or school level. オープン戦 is specifically for pre-season baseball games.
プロのエキシビションゲームは華やかだ。
Professional exhibition games are glamorous.
練習試合で新しいフォーメーションを試した。
We tried a new formation in the practice match.
In sports contexts, loanwords like エキシビションゲーム and チャリティーマッチ are very natural and widely understood. Native Japanese terms like 公開試合 or 慈善試合 may sound stiff or formal.
そのチームは東京でエキシビションゲームを行った。
The team played an exhibition game in Tokyo.
大学チームと練習試合があります。
We have a practice match against the university team.
The professional baseball exhibition games have started.