Chinese word

起球

Pronunciation

Pinyinqǐ qiú

Meaning

  • verbpill

Example

那件毛衣穿久了会起球。nà jiàn máo yī chuān jiǔ le huì qǐ qiú

That sweater pills after being worn for a long time.

Illustration for 起球 (pill)

More examples

这件羊毛衫洗过几次以后开始起球。zhè jiàn yáng máo shān xǐ guò jǐ cì yǐ hòu kāi shǐ qǐ qiú

This wool sweater started pilling after being washed a few times.

Core concept

Repeated friction gathers tangled fibers on a fabric surface into tiny balls.

Common phrases

  • 毛衣起球máo yī qǐ qiú

    sweater pills

  • 羊毛衫起球yáng máo shān qǐ qiú

    wool sweater pills

  • 袜子起球wà zi qǐ qiú

    socks pill

Similar words

起毛qǐ máo: Create a soft, fuzzy surface by making fabric fibers stand up.
起球儿qǐ qiúr: Become covered with small balls of tangled fibers, in casual speech.

Definition in Chinese

指衣料表面由于长期摩擦或纤维相互缠绕而形成的小球状毛团。zhǐ yī liào biǎo miàn yóu yú cháng qī mó cā huò xiān wéi xiāng hù chán rào ér xíng chéng de xiǎo qiú zhuàng máo tuán

Word origin

起球 (qǐqiú, "to form pills") combines 起 (qǐ, "to arise") with 球 (qiú, "ball"), picturing a round tuft appearing on the fabric.

Usage tips

  • Chinese commonly makes the garment or fabric the subject because the change happens to its surface, without naming a person who causes it.

Word lists with this word