Translation guide
The activity of throwing a ball back and forth between two or more people, typically for fun or practice.
To describe the recreational activity of throwing a ball back and forth.
The most common and natural way to say 'play catch' in Japanese. キャッチボール is a loanword from English 'catch ball' and is widely understood.
公園でキャッチボールをしよう。
Let's play catch in the park.
子供の頃、よく父とキャッチボールをした。
When I was a child, I often played catch with my dad.
A broader term meaning 'play with a ball'. It can include catch but is not specific to throwing back and forth. Useful when the exact activity is less defined.
子供たちが庭でボール遊びをしている。
The kids are playing with a ball in the yard.
To refer to throwing a ball back and forth as a warm-up or drill in sports like baseball.
Same as above, but used in a sports context. It's the standard term for warming up by throwing.
試合前にキャッチボールで肩を温める。
We warm up our arms by playing catch before the game.
A more technical term meaning 'throwing practice', used in formal sports training contexts. Not common in everyday conversation.
チームは送球練習に時間を割いた。
The team spent time on throwing practice.