波
bo¹
The Cantonese word for ball is 波 (bo¹).
波 refers to a generally spherical object used for playing games. You can use it to form compound words for specific sports, such as 足球 (soccer), 籃球 (basketball) and 排球 (volleyball). In casual conversation, the phrase 踢波 is used specifically to mean "play soccer."
Meaning: object, generally spherical, used for playing games (noun)
Which one should you use?
The diminutive form 波波 is used to refer to a little ball or a toy ball.
How do you pronounce it?
bo¹
Did you know?
- In Cantonese slang, the word 波 can sometimes refer to breasts, depending on the social setting and the listener's sensitivity.
- The character 波 originally referred to 'waves' in water, linking the undulating motion of a wave to the rolling motion of a ball.
- The character 波 is frequently used in the names of foreign cities or countries through transliteration, such as 波蘭 for 'Poland'.
Examples in context
- 好難用個鼻頂住個波。It's difficult to balance a ball on your nose.This example shows how to use 波 in the context of balancing it on one's nose.Tatoeba #7987792 by nickyeow, translation #318199 by kebukebu
- 一場戰鬥嘅歷史，同一個波嘅歷史冇乜分別。有啲人可能會回想返起所有小事件，其中最大嘅結果係戰鬥贏咗或者輸咗，但係冇一個人可以回想返起佢哋發生嘅順序，或者確切嘅時刻，呢個就係佢哋嘅價值或者重要性嘅所有差異。The history of a battle, is not unlike the history of a ball. Some individuals may recollect all the little events of which the great result is the battle won or lost, but no individual can recollect the order in which, or the exact moment at which, they occurred, which makes all the difference as to their value or importance.This example uses 波 to compare the history of a ball to the history of a battle.Tatoeba #13489076 by Davidgo5867, translation #5333476 by Hybrid
- 「我朋友扔俾我一粒彈珠。」My friend threw a marble at me.
- 「你識唔識踢波？」Do you know how to play soccer?
- 個波係圓形嘅。go3 bo1 hai6 jyun4 jing4 sing4 ge3.The ball is spherical.
Example conversation
Two friends are at a park preparing to play.
- 美玲 Mei Ling志強，你有冇帶個波嚟？zi3 koeng4, nei5 jau5 mou5 daai3 go3 bo1 lai4?Zi Keung, did you bring a ball?
- 志強 Chi Keung有呀，喺我個背包入面。jau5 aa3, hai2 ngo5 go3 bui1 baau1 jap6 min6.Yes, it is in my backpack.
- 美玲 Mei Ling等我攞個波出嚟玩啦。dang2 ngo5 lo2 go3 bo1 ceot1 lai4 waan2 laa1.Let me take the ball out to play.
- 志強 Chi Keung好呀，我哋一齊踢波啦。hou2 aa3, ngo5 dei6 jat1 cai4 tek3 bo1 laa1.Okay, let's play ball together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ball” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
