体育
sports; physical education; athletics
tǐyù
What does 体育 mean?
体育 (tǐyù) is the umbrella noun for 'sports / physical education / athletics' as a domain — the whole field of organized physical activity. Literally 'body-education,' it covers school P.E. (体育课), competitive sports (体育比赛), and the sports industry/world generally (体育新闻 'sports news,' 体育明星 'sports star'). Important distinction English speakers miss: 体育 names the category, but the act of exercising or playing a specific sport is 运动 (yùndòng) or 锻炼 (duànliàn).
You don't 'do 体育' the way you 'do sports' in English; instead you do 运动 (exercise) or 打/踢 a specific sport. Compounds to learn: 体育馆 (tǐyùguǎn, 'gym / stadium'), 体育场 (tǐyùchǎng, 'stadium'), 体育课
Character breakdown
body
to educate; to raise
Memory hook: 体 'body' + 育 'educate' = education of the body — physical education, sports.
Measure word for 体育
Example sentences
我们今天有体育课。
Wǒmen jīntiān yǒu tǐyù kè.
We have P.E. class today.
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他喜欢看体育新闻。
Tā xǐhuan kàn tǐyù xīnwén.
He likes watching sports news.
neutral
体育馆就在学校旁边。
Tǐyùguǎn jiù zài xuéxiào pángbiān.
The gym is right next to the school.
neutral
我哥哥是一个体育老师。
Wǒ gēge shì yí ge tǐyù lǎoshī.
My older brother is a P.E. teacher.
spoken
中国人很喜欢体育比赛。
Zhōngguó rén hěn xǐhuan tǐyù bǐsài.
Chinese people really enjoy sports competitions.
neutral
Common phrases with 体育
Synonyms
Don't confuse 体育 with
FAQ
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