Chinese word

足球

Pronunciation

Pinyinzú qiú

Meaning

  • nounsoccer

Example

孩子们在公园踢足球。hái zi men zài gōng yuán tī zú qiú

The children are playing soccer in the park.

Illustration for 足球 (soccer)

More examples

我喜欢看电视上的足球比赛。wǒ xǐ huān kàn diàn shì shàng de zú qiú bǐ sài

I like watching soccer games on TV.

Core concept

A goal-scoring field sport built around passing and kicking one ball with the feet.

Common phrases

  • 踢足球tī zú qiú

    play soccer

  • 看足球比赛kàn zú qiú bǐ sài

    watch a soccer game

  • 足球队zú qiú duì

    soccer team

  • 足球场zú qiú chǎng

    soccer stadium

Similar words

篮球lán qiú: A team game in which players use their hands to put a ball through a high hoop.
乒乓球pīng pāng qiú: A sport played across a table by striking a small ball back and forth with paddles.
羽毛球yǔ máo qiú: A game played with rackets by sending a feathered shuttlecock back and forth over a net.
排球pái qiú: A game played by teams that strike a ball over a net so it lands in the other court.

Definition in Chinese

以进球为目的在场地上进行的球类运动，通常以脚为主要触球方式。yǐ jìn qiú wèi mù dì zài chǎng dì shàng jìn xíng de qiú lèi yùn dòng tōng cháng yǐ jiǎo wéi zhǔ yào chù qiú fāng shì

Word origin

足球 (zúqiú, "soccer") is formed from 足 (zú, "foot") + 球 (qiú, "ball"), a direct name for a sport centered on the feet and a ball.

Usage tips

  • The English name for this sport varies by region: "soccer" is usual in the United States, while "football" is usual in the United Kingdom and many other places.

Other meanings

  • soccer ballnoun

Related words

  • 足球队zú qiú duìsoccer teamnoun
  • 足球场zú qiú chǎngsoccer stadiumnoun
  • 足球比赛zú qiú bǐ sàisoccer gamenoun

Word lists with this word