球 (qiú) — ball; ball game; match | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

球 is the everyday word for 'ball' (an object) and for a ball game or match. Specific sports pair with it: 足球 (soccer), 网球 (tennis).

noun

ballball gamematch

Measure word · 个, 场

Easily confused

Sound + meaning

六书liùshū

形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

玉玉yùjade

Sound part声符shēngfú

求

Same sound today

球 is built from 玉, meaning jade, and 求, which gives the sound.

Appears in