网球
wǎngqiú
The English phrase "tennis ball" is translated into Chinese as 网球 (wǎngqiú).
网球 is used to refer to the small, hollow rubber ball covered with felt used for playing tennis. It is also the term used to refer to the sport of tennis itself.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 网 (wǎng), meaning 'net' and 球 (qiú), meaning 'ball'.
Which one should you use?
The single term 网球 refers to both the sport of tennis and the tennis ball.
How do you pronounce it?
wǎngqiú
Did you know?
- The word for 'net' in 网球, which is 网, is the same character used for the 'internet' in modern Chinese.
- While 网球 is the sport, the act of playing it is expressed as 打网球, using the verb 打 which literally means 'to hit'. This is the same verb used for basketball and volleyball, but not for football.
- A person who is an expert at 网球 might be called a 球星, which literally translates to 'ball star'. This term applies to any sports superstar regardless of the specific ball used.
Examples in context
- 请把网球传给我。Please pass me the tennis ball.
- 这颗网球很新。Zhè kē wǎngqiú hěn xīn.This tennis ball is very new.
- 我买了一盒网球。Wǒ mǎile yī hé wǎngqiú.I bought a box of tennis balls.
- 请把那颗网球给我。Qǐng bǎ nà kē wǎngqiú gěi wǒ.Please give me that tennis ball.
Example conversation
At a sports court, Haoran and Yuting are preparing for a game.
- 浩然 Haoran雨婷，你有网球吗？Yǔtíng, nǐ yǒu wǎngqiú ma?Yuting, do you have a tennis ball?
- 雨婷 Yuting我有，就在包里。Wǒ yǒu, jiù zài bāo lǐ.I have one, it's in the bag.
- 浩然 Haoran太好了，我们开始吧。Tài hǎole, wǒmen kāishǐ ba.Great, let's get started.
- 雨婷 Yuting好，准备好了！Hǎo, zhǔnbèi hǎole!Okay, I'm ready!
