球拍

The Chinese word 球拍 (qiú pài) for "racket" is a compound of two characters: 球 (qiú), meaning "ball," and 拍 (pài), meaning "to strike" or "to clap." The word 球拍 is therefore literally translated as "ball-striking implement." This etymology reflects the fact that a racket is a tool used to hit a ball in sports such as tennis, badminton, and table tennis.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 type of round object, such as a ball or a pearl. Over time, the meaning of 球 expanded to include other round objects, such as the Earth and the sun. The character 拍 (pài) also has a long history in Chinese, dating back to the Zhou dynasty (c. 1046-256 BCE). It was originally used to refer to the act of striking or clapping. Over time, the meaning of 拍 expanded to include other actions, such as applauding and playing a musical instrument.The compound word 球拍 (qiú pài) first appeared in Chinese during the Qing dynasty (1644-1912). It was used to refer to a racket used in the game of tennis, which was introduced to China by Western missionaries in the 19th century. The word 球拍 has since been adopted into the Chinese language to refer to rackets used in other sports, such as badminton and table tennis.