球员

• Pinyin: qiú yuán
• Hanzi breakdown: 球 = 王 (jade) + 求 (seek) — ball; 员 = 口 (mouth) + 贝 (shell) — member

Meaning

Player; ball game athlete. A person who plays a ball sport professionally or as part of a team.

The standard term for players of ball sports like football, basketball, baseball, etc. More neutral than 球星 — refers to any team member, not just stars. Used in sports news, team rosters, and discussions about athletic performance.

Examples

1. 这支球队有三十名球员，但只有十八人能进入比赛名单。 This team has thirty players, but only eighteen can be on the game roster.
2. 职业球员的训练非常艰苦，每天要练习好几个小时。 Professional players train very hard, practicing for several hours every day.
3. 受伤的球员已经被送往医院接受检查。 The injured player has been sent to the hospital for examination.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, teams, news

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 这个球员表现很出色。(This player performed excellently.)
• 球员们正在热身。(The players are warming up.)

Don't Say

• 不要用'球员'称呼非球类运动的运动员 (Don't use 球员 for athletes in non-ball sports — use 运动员 instead)

Origin & History

Compound of 球 (ball) and 员 (member, personnel). Together they denote a member who plays ball sports.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal