Chinese word

选手

Pronunciation

Pinyinxuǎn shǒu

Meaning

  • nounathlete

Example

这位选手跑得很快。zhè wèi xuán shǒu pǎo de hěn kuài

This athlete runs very fast.

Illustration for 选手 (athlete)

More examples

参赛选手要提前到场。cān sài xuán shǒu yào tí qián dào chǎng

A competing athlete must arrive at the venue early.

Core concept

A chosen competitor whose ability is tested against others for a measured result.

Common phrases

  • 参赛选手cān sài xuán shǒu

    competing athlete

  • 职业选手zhí yè xuán shǒu

    professional athlete

  • 优秀选手yōu xiù xuán shǒu

    outstanding athlete

Similar words

运动员yùn dòng yuán: A person who trains and competes in sports.
参赛者cān sài zhě: A person who takes part in a contest or competition.
对手duì shǒu: A person who competes directly against someone else.

Definition in Chinese

选手指被选中参加比赛或代表队出场、在比赛中进行竞技或角逐成绩的人。xuán shǒu zhǐ bèi xuǎn zhōng cān jiā bǐ sài huò dài biǎo duì chū chǎng zài bǐ sài zhōng jìn xíng jìng jì huò jué zhú chéng jì de rén

Word origin

选 (xuǎn, "choose") + 手 (shǒu, "hand") uses 手 in its established sense of a person skilled in an activity, giving the compound its sense of a chosen competitor.

Usage tips

  • In everyday reports, the word can cover school, amateur, professional, and video-game competitions, so its setting comes from context rather than from the noun itself.

Other meanings

  • contestantnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word