球

• Reading: きゅう
• Romaji: kyuu
• Kanji breakdown: 球 (kyuu/tama) — ball, sphere, globe
• Pronunciation: /kjɯː/

Meaning

Globe; sphere; ball. A perfectly round three-dimensional shape.

A noun used in scientific, mathematical, and sports contexts to describe spherical objects. Common in compounds like 地球 (chikyuu, Earth), 野球 (yakyuu, baseball), 電球 (denkyuu, light bulb), and 球場 (kyuujou, ballpark). More formal and technical than 玉.

Examples

1. 地球は完全な球ではない。 The Earth is not a perfect sphere.
2. 野球の試合を見に行こう。 Let's go watch a baseball game.
3. 切れた電球を新しいものに替えた。 I replaced the burned-out light bulb with a new one.

Usage Guide

Context: science, sports, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 球 combines 玉 (tama, jewel/ball) and 求 (kyuu, seek). Originally referred to a perfectly round jade, later generalized to mean any spherical object.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal