Definitions

qiú (noun) ball; sphere; globe
qiú (noun) ball game; match

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 𤣩 represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

球 is a phono-semantic compound. Its left component is the jade radical 𤣩 (王旁), while the right component 求 provides the pronunciation. The jade radical originally indicated the character referred to a fine, sonorous jade stone, often carved into a spherical ornament or chime. Over time, the emphasis shifted from the material to the shape itself. Consequently, 球 came to mean any spherical object, a ball used in sports, or even planets like Earth in modern usage.

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢打篮

Wǒ xǐhuān dǎ lánqiú.

I like playing basketball.

比赛开始了。

Zúqiú bǐsài kāishǐ le.

The soccer game has started.

围绕太阳转。

Dìqiú wéirào tàiyáng zhuàn.

The Earth revolves around the sun.

他买了一个新排

Tā mǎi le yī gè xīn páiqiú.

He bought a new volleyball.

我们在体育馆打羽毛

Wǒmen zài tǐyùguǎn dǎ yǔmáoqiú.

We play badminton in the gym.

这个的颜色很鲜艳。

Zhège qiú de yánsè hěn xiānyàn.

The color of this ball is very bright.

她是一名优秀的网运动员。

Tā shì yī míng yōuxiù de wǎngqiú yùndòngyuán.

She is an excellent tennis player.

科学家们研究了地的气候变化。

Kēxuéjiā men yánjiū le dìqiú de qìhòu biànhuà.

Scientists have studied the climate change of the Earth.