v.
To strike or propel forcefully with the foot. To play soccer/football; to kick something out or break a bad habit. A foot (足) swings out in a sharp motion, sending a ball or object flying.
踢
Common Usage & Traps
- 踢足球 — play soccer/football
- 踢球 — play ball; kick a ball
- 踢门 — kick a door
- 踢人 — kick someone
- 踢出去 — kick out
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打足球踢足球Soccer is played by kicking, so the verb must be 踢, not 打.
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踢篮球打篮球Basketball is played with hands, so the verb must be 打, not 踢.
Why do Chinese speakers say 踢足球 but 打篮球 for ball sports?
Soccer uses 踢 because you kick it; basketball uses 打 because you use hands.
Chinese often names the body action instead of using one vague verb for every sport. For soccer, your foot does the work, so the verb is 踢. For basketball, your hands do the work, so the verb is 打. Swap them and native ears hear the wrong body part doing the action. Say 踢足球 and 打篮球; avoid 打足球 and 踢篮球. “Ａ：你喜欢踢足球和打篮球吗？” (A: Do you like playing soccer and basketball?) ── [《你喜欢看老电影吗？》](/read/do-you-like-old-movies#s8)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Soccer | 踢足球 | 打足球 |
| Basketball | 打篮球 | 踢篮球 |
| Rule | Use the verb that matches the body action | Use one 'play' verb for all sports |
Can 踢 mean any kind of kick, like kicking a door or a person?
Yes. 踢 is the general verb for kick, not just soccer.
踢 is not limited to soccer. It simply means to kick with your foot. You can 踢门 when you kick a door, or 踢人 when you kick a person. Even 踢出去 is normal when you kick something out or kick someone out. So treat 踢 as the general kick verb, with 踢足球 as just one common phrase.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| General kick | 踢门, 踢人, 踢出去 | assuming 踢 only means play soccer |
| Soccer | 踢足球, 踢球 | 打足球 |
| Basketball | 打篮球 | 踢篮球 |
Featured in Story Deep Dive
Follow how this word unfolds across the narrative arc of this graded story.
In this dialogue, two people chat while waiting outside a cinema. You'll hear common phrases for talking about hobbies, sports, and movie preferences.
- Scene #1
Ａ：你喜欢 踢 足球和打篮球吗？
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