Mandarin Vocabulary for Sports Fans: From Soccer to Basketball

Sports, particularly soccer (足球, zúqiú) and basketball (篮球, lánqiú), enjoy widespread popularity in China. Understanding Mandarin vocabulary related to these sports can deepen your connection with the games and provide a richer experience as a fan. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner, mastering the terms used by sports commentators, coaches, and fans will allow you to engage more fully with Chinese-speaking sports communities.

Soccer Vocabulary

Soccer (足球, zúqiú) is the most popular sport in the world, and China is no exception. The sport has a rich lexicon, and understanding these terms will help you follow the game and communicate with other fans.

Basic Soccer Terminology

足球 (zúqiú): Soccer; literally "foot ball".
比赛 (bǐsài): Match or competition. This term can be used for any kind of sporting event.
球队 (qiúduì): Team; literally "ball team". This refers to the group of players in any sport, but in soccer, it's specifically the 11 players on the field at once.
球员 (qiúyuán): Player; "ball member". A soccer player.
进球 (jìnqiú): Goal; "enter ball". Refers to the act of scoring a goal.
点球 (diǎnqiú): Penalty kick; "point ball". A special type of kick awarded when a player commits a foul inside the penalty box.
任意球 (rènyìqiú): Free kick; "optional ball". Awarded when a player is fouled in certain areas of the field.
越位 (yuèwèi): Offside; "exceed position". A rule violation when a player is closer to the opponent's goal than both the ball and the second-to-last defender.
角球 (jiǎoqiú): Corner kick; "corner ball". A method of restarting play when the ball goes over the goal line, last touched by a player from the defending team.
黄牌 (huángpái): Yellow card; "yellow card". Given as a warning for a foul.
红牌 (hóngpái): Red card; "red card". Given for serious offenses, leading to ejection from the game.
裁判 (cáipàn): Referee; "judge". The official responsible for overseeing the game.
球迷 (qiúmí): Soccer fan; "ball fan".
进攻 (jìngōng): Offense; "attack". Refers to the team or actions focused on scoring goals.
防守 (fángshǒu): Defense; "defend hand". Refers to preventing the opposing team from scoring.
换人 (huàn rén): Substitution; "change people". Refers to when one player is replaced by another.
时间 (shíjiān): Time; "time". Refers to the duration of the game.
半场 (bànchǎng): Half-time; "half game". The break between the first and second halves.

Advanced Soccer Terminology

Once you are familiar with basic terms, you can expand your vocabulary with these more advanced soccer terms:

传球 (chuánqiú): Pass; "transfer ball". The act of moving the ball to a teammate.
射门 (shèmén): Shooting; "shoot goal". The action of trying to score a goal.
控球 (kòngqiú): Ball control; "control ball". Refers to a player's ability to maintain possession of the ball.
传中 (chuán zhōng): Cross; "pass center". A type of pass that is made from the wing to the center of the field, often aiming for a player to score.
防守反击 (fángshǒu fǎnjī): Counterattack; "defensive counterattack". A quick attack after regaining possession of the ball from the opposition.
定位球 (dìwèiqiú): Set piece; "position ball". Any restart from a specific position, such as a free kick or corner kick.

Basketball Vocabulary

Basketball (篮球, lánqiú) is widely popular in China, especially in urban areas. With the rise of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and the influence of international leagues like the NBA, basketball vocabulary is essential for sports fans. Below are some of the key terms to know.

Basic Basketball Terminology

篮球 (lánqiú): Basketball; literally "basket ball".
比赛 (bǐsài): Match or competition. Used for all types of basketball games, whether professional or recreational.
球队 (qiúduì): Team; "ball team". The group of players working together to win the game.
球员 (qiúyuán): Player; "ball member". A player participating in the game.
得分 (défēn): Score; "gain points". Used to describe the act of scoring.
三分球 (sān fēn qiú): Three-point shot; "three points ball". A shot made from beyond the three-point line.
罚球 (fáqiú): Free throw; "penalty ball". A shot taken from the free-throw line after a foul is committed.
扣篮 (kòulán): Dunk; "hook basket". When a player jumps and forces the ball through the hoop with one or both hands.
抢篮板 (qiǎng lánbǎn): Rebound; "grab basket". When a player retrieves the ball after a missed shot.
助攻 (zhùgōng): Assist; "help attack". A pass that directly leads to a score.
盖帽 (gàimào): Block; "cover hat". When a defender deflects a shot attempt.
犯规 (fànguī): Foul; "break rule". A violation of the game’s rules, resulting in free throws or other penalties.
裁判 (cáipàn): Referee; "judge". The official responsible for enforcing the rules during the game.
球迷 (qiúmí): Basketball fan; "ball fan". A person who enjoys watching or supporting a basketball team.
快攻 (kuài gōng): Fast break; "quick attack". A quick offensive move after recovering possession of the ball.
时间暂停 (shíjiān zàntíng): Timeout; "time pause". A break in play called by the coach or referee.

Advanced Basketball Terminology

Once you're comfortable with basic basketball terms, here are more advanced phrases to elevate your understanding of the game:

全场压制 (quánchǎng yāzhì): Full-court press; "full court press". A defensive strategy where players pressure the opposing team across the entire court.
反击 (fǎnjī): Counterattack; "counter strike". A fast response after stealing the ball or forcing a turnover.
挡拆 (dǎngchāi): Pick and roll; "block and break". A play where a player sets a screen for a teammate and then moves toward the basket to receive a pass.
双重威胁 (shuāngchóng wēixié): Double threat; "twofold threat". A position where a player can either shoot or pass the ball.
突破 (tūpò): Breakthrough; "breakthrough". A move where a player drives past a defender toward the basket.

Useful Phrases for Fans

These common expressions will make you sound like a true soccer or basketball enthusiast:

加油! (jiā yóu!): Come on!; A cheer of encouragement commonly used during the game.
好球! (hǎo qiú!): Nice shot!; Used to praise a good play.
漂亮! (piàoliang!): Beautiful!; An exclamation of admiration, usually used after a good play.
进了! (jìn le!): It's in!; Used when a goal or basket is scored.
再来一个! (zài lái yí ge!): Another one!; Asking for another goal or basket from the team.
换人! (huàn rén!): Substitution!; Calling out when a player substitution occurs.
暂停! (zàntíng!): Timeout!; When the game is paused for a break.
比赛结束! (bǐsài jiéshù!): Game over!; Declaring the end of the game.

Slang Expressions

Sports fans often use slang and casual phrases. Here are some expressions commonly used by Chinese-speaking fans:

爆冷 (bào lěng): Upset; "explode cold". Used when an underdog team wins against the favorites.
球场风云 (qiúchǎng fēngyún): The drama of the game; "court wind and cloud". Refers to an exciting or dramatic moment in the game.
神仙球 (shénxiān qiú): Magical goal/shot; "godly ball". Used to describe an extraordinary play or a miraculous goal.

Want to learn more?

Our app can answer your questions and provide more details on this topic!

Try Our App Now (Free)