打球 meaning in English

打球 is a general verb phrase for playing ball games, especially ones where you hit or handle the ball, like basketball, volleyball, tennis or table tennis. You can also name the sport directly, as in 打篮球 (dǎ lánqiú). Example: 周末我们去打球吧。(Zhōumò wǒmen qù dǎqiú ba.) Let's go play ball this weekend.

打 (dǎ) has the hand radical 扌 on the left, so picture a hand hitting something. 球 (qiú) is a ball, the same 球 you see in 地球 (dìqiú), the earth, so 打球 is your hand hitting a ball.

Common mistake: Learners often say 打足球 for soccer, but soccer uses 踢 (tī, to kick), so it is 踢足球 (tī zúqiú). Also keep 打 in third tone (dǎ) and 球 in second tone (qiú). Do not flatten both into the same tone.