Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
羽毛球 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
羽毛球yǔmáoqiúshuttlecockHSK 3, n, rank #24439, Hard
羽毛球yǔmáoqiúbadmintonHSK 3, n, rank #24439, Hard
羽毛球yǔmáoqiú>个[gè]HSK 3, n, rank #24439, Hard
yǔmáoqiú(yu3mao2qiu2) T3
  1. 1shuttlecock
  2. 2badminton
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
羽毛球yǔmáoqiú(yu3mao2qiu2)

羽毛球 (yǔmáoqiú) refers to the sport of badminton as well as the shuttlecock used in the game. It is a popular recreational activity in China, often played in parks and sports centers, emphasizing agility and skill.

Frequency#24439DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

Badminton (羽毛球) is hugely popular in China, often considered a national sport, with many local tournaments and a strong following among all age groups. It symbolizes leisure and social interaction in outdoor settings.

Memory Tip

Think of 羽 (yǔ) as 'feather' and 毛 (máo) as 'fur' – together they evoke the image of a 'shuttlecock' that has feathers. The '球' (qiú) means 'ball' but refers to any spherical object used in sports, making the entire word feel like a 'feather ball'.

Meanings of 羽毛球

yǔmáoqiú(yu3mao2qiu2)
1shuttlecock
2badminton
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 羽毛球

羽毛球Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#24439Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L3IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 羽毛球

JasonAmy

Podcast: 羽毛球

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 羽毛球

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 羽 (yǔ) as 'feather' and 毛 (máo) as 'fur' – together they evoke the image of a 'shuttlecock' that has feathers. The '球' (qiú) means 'ball' but refers to any spherical object used in sports, making the entire word feel like a 'feather ball'.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing '羽毛球' as mispronouncing any part may lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words. The term is generally informal and is often used in casual conversations among friends or family discussing sports.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 4 word, 羽毛球 connects with other sports terminology and recreational activities, enhancing vocabulary related to hobbies. Focus on practicing the tones and context in which this word is used to better integrate it into conversations.

Cultural Note

Badminton (羽毛球) is hugely popular in China, often considered a national sport, with many local tournaments and a strong following among all age groups. It symbolizes leisure and social interaction in outdoor settings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 羽毛球 with other sports terms like 网球 (tennis) or 球 (ball). It's important to remember that 羽毛球 specifically refers to badminton, not just any ball sport.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 羽毛球

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 羽毛球 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Component Characters

羽yǔfeather
HSK 76 strokes羽
View full entry
毛máohair
HSK 34 strokes毛
View full entry
球qiúball
HSK 211 strokes王
View full entry

Write 羽毛球

羽
毛
球

Practice writing 羽毛球 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 羽毛球

羽毛球 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

试试网球、____或帆板运动吧。总之，只要是有挑战性的。

Try tennis, badminton or windsurfing. In short, anything challenging.

Example Sentences for 羽毛球 (4)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
试试网球、羽毛球或帆板运动吧。总之，只要是有挑战性的。

shì shì wǎng qiú、 、 yǔ máo qiú huò fān bǎn yùn dòng。 bā 。， zǒng zhī ， zhī yào shì yǒu tiāo。

Try tennis, badminton or windsurfing. In short, anything challenging.
2
羽毛球可由两人或四人来打.

yǔ máo qiú kě yóu liǎng rén huò sì rén lái dǎ.

Badminton can be played by two or four people.
3
巴纳比可能15岁了，但他动作敏捷，适合打羽毛球。

bā nà bǐ kě néng15 15 suì， le ， dàn tā dòng zuò， mǐn jié ， shì hé dǎ。

Barnaby may be 15, but he's nippy and suited to badminton.
4
她熟练地轻抖手腕,把羽毛球击过了网.

tā shú liàn dì qīng dǒu shǒu wàn, , bǎ yǔ máo qiú jī guò le.

She sent the shuttlecock flying over the net with a practised flick of the wrist.

Cultural Notes for 羽毛球

🏮Cultural insight

Badminton (羽毛球) is hugely popular in China, often considered a national sport, with many local tournaments and a strong following among all age groups. It symbolizes leisure and social interaction in outdoor settings.

Frequently Asked Questions about 羽毛球

羽毛球 refers to badminton, while 网球 refers to tennis. They are different sports with distinct rules and equipment.