球迷

The Chinese word 球迷 (qiúmí) for "sports fan" is a compound of two characters: 球 (qiú), meaning "ball," and 迷 (mí), meaning "fanatic" or "enthusiast." The term 球迷 is used to refer to people who are passionate about sports, particularly those who follow and support a particular team or athlete.The character 球 (qiú) has a long history in Chinese, dating back to the Shang dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BCE). It was originally used to refer to a round object, such as a ball or a pearl. Over time, the meaning of 球 expanded to include other spherical objects, such as the Earth and the planets. In modern Chinese, 球 is used to refer to any type of ball, including sports balls, billiard balls, and even eyeballs.The character 迷 (mí) has a more complex etymology. It is derived from the character 巫 (wū), which originally meant "shaman" or "sorcerer." Over time, the meaning of 巫 expanded to include anyone who was possessed by a spirit or who was in a state of trance. In modern Chinese, 迷 is used to refer to someone who is obsessed with something, such as a sports fan or a movie buff.The compound word 球迷 (qiúmí) is a relatively new term, dating back to the early 20th century. It was coined by Chinese sportswriters to describe the growing number of people who were becoming passionate about sports. The term quickly gained popularity and is now used throughout China to refer to sports fans.