球

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 球 (qiú) for "ball" is composed of two parts: the radical 囗 (wéi) and the phonetic component 求 (qiú). The radical 囗 represents an enclosure or boundary, while the phonetic component 求 originally meant "to seek" or "to ask for". Together, these two components suggest the idea of a round object that is enclosed or contained within a boundary.The character 球 has been used in Chinese for over 2,000 years, and its meaning has evolved over time. In ancient times, it was used to refer to a variety of round objects, such as balls, pearls, and planets. In modern Chinese, it is most commonly used to refer to balls used in sports and games, such as basketballs, soccer balls, and tennis balls.The character 球 is also used in a number of other contexts. For example, it can be used to refer to the Earth (地球, dìqiú), the universe (宇宙, yǔzhòu), and even a person's head (脑袋, nǎodai). In these cases, the character 球 is used to convey the idea of a round or spherical object.The character 球 is a versatile character with a rich history and a variety of meanings. It is an important character for HSK learners to know, as it is used in a wide range of contexts.