Zubon
ズボン
The trousers of the keikogi training uniform. The word came into Japanese from the French jupon, so it is written in katakana as a foreign word.
Quick Facts
Term typeClothing
LanguageJapanese
Formnoun
Pronunciation[zoo-bohn]
Alternative Namestrousers
Readings and romanizations
Reading (kana)ズボン
Hepburn romanizationzubon
Word breakdown
ズボンzubontrousers (from French jupon)
Definition
Zubon (ズボン) are the trousers of the keikogi training uniform, worn with the uwagi jacket and the obi belt. They are tightened at the waist with a cord or elastic. In judo they are often reinforced at the knees, for much kneeling and groundwork. The word is not Japanese in origin. It came into Japanese from the French jupon, petticoat, so it is written in katakana, the script for foreign-origin words. Outside the dojo, zubon in Japanese means trousers in general.