世界杯

• Pinyin: shì jiè bēi
• Hanzi breakdown: 世 = pictograph of three decades; 界 = 田 (field) + 介 (between); 杯 = 木 (wood) + 不 (not, phonetic)

Meaning

World Cup; the international football (soccer) tournament held every four years, or similar global competitions in other sports.

Most commonly refers to the FIFA World Cup, but can also refer to world cups in other sports such as basketball or rugby when specified. A highly recognisable term in sports media.

Examples

1. 今年的世界杯在哪个国家举办？ Which country is hosting the World Cup this year?
2. 很多人熬夜看世界杯比赛。 Many people stay up late to watch World Cup matches.
3. 他的梦想是参加世界杯。 His dream is to participate in the World Cup.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, media, everyday

Tone: enthusiastic

Do Say

• 你看世界杯了吗？(Did you watch the World Cup?)
• 世界杯每四年举办一次。(The World Cup is held every four years.)

Don't Say

• 我们公司举办了一个世界杯。(Don't use 世界杯 for local or company events — it specifically refers to international-level sports tournaments.)

Origin & History

世界 (world) + 杯 (cup/trophy). A direct translation of the English term 'World Cup', adopted into Chinese with the rise of international sports broadcasting.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal