Sports in Chinese
This list gathers essential sports-related vocabulary in Chinese for beginner to intermediate learners. It covers names of sports, competition terms, and words about training and equipment. Use it to talk about hobbies, follow sports news, or understand instructions in classes and practices.
- 运动 yùndòng — to exercise (physically); to do sport
- 体育 tǐyù — sports; athletics
- 球 qiú — ball used for playing games (variant)
- 跑步 pǎobù — to run (move quickly on foot)
- 游泳 yóuyǒng — to swim
- 健身 jiànshēn — to exercise; to keep fit; to work out
- 训练 xùnliàn — to train; to drill
- 比赛 bǐsài — competition; match (sports, contests)
- 队 duì — squadron; team; group
- 裁判 cáipàn — to judge; to adjudicate (in a legal context)
- 冠军 guànjūn — champion (winner of a competition or title)
- 得分 défēn — to score a point (in a competition, test, etc.)
- 投篮 tóulán — to shoot for the basket (basketball)
- 防守 fángshǒu — to defend; to protect (against)
- 进攻 jìngōng — to attack; to assault; to go on the offensive
- 球员 qiúyuán — (ball sports) player; team member
- 教练 jiàoliàn — to coach; to train
- 观众 guānzhòng — spectators; audience; visitors (to an exhibition etc.)
- 场地 chǎngdì — site; place; space (area for an activity or event)
- 球场 qiúchǎng — stadium; sports ground; court; pitch; field; golf course
- 体育馆 tǐyùguǎn — gym; gymnasium; stadium
- 奖牌 jiǎngpái — medal (awarded as a prize)
- 拉伸 lāshēn — to draw out; to stretch (physically or in length); to extend
- 跳远 tiàoyuǎn — long jump (athletics)
- 跳高 tiàogāo — high jump (athletics event)
- 举重 jǔzhòng — to lift weights (as an exercise)
- 自行车 zìxíngchē — bicycle; bike
- 滑雪 huáxuě — to ski; skiing
- 滑冰 huábīng — to skate; skating
- 乒乓球 pīngpāngqiú — table tennis; ping‑pong; (also) table tennis ball
- 羽毛球 yǔmáoqiú — badminton; shuttlecock
- 网球 wǎngqiú — tennis (the sport)
- 足球 zúqiú — soccer; football; a soccer ball (also: a football)
- 篮球 lánqiú — basketball (sport or ball)
- 排球 páiqiú — volleyball
- 棒球 bàngqiú — baseball (the sport); baseball (ball)
- 拳击 quánjī — boxing
- 柔道 róudào — judo (Japanese martial art and Olympic sport)
- 摔跤 shuāijiāo — to trip and fall
- 马拉松 mǎlāsōng — marathon (long-distance running race; also used figuratively for any long, endurance event)
- 短跑 duǎnpǎo — sprint (race)
- 接力 jiēlì — relay (race); relay event
- 体操 tǐcāo — gymnastics (sport)
- 瑜伽 yújiā — yoga (loanword)
- 平衡 pínghéng — balance; equilibrium
- 速度 sùdù — speed; rate; velocity (how fast something moves or happens)
- 耐力 nàilì — endurance
- 力量 lìliang — power; force; strength (physical or abstract)