<p>Generally speaking, when it comes to sports, Chinese constructs the actions using a verb-object composition. 打 and 踢 are certainly not the only verbs that can be used. </p>

<p>To answer the question in your title, the correct verb to use for Martial Arts is 打 if the Martial Arts in question has a "fist" in the title (e.g. 打太极拳) or 练 (e.g. 练武术). Very often the two are interchangeable, though that may sometimes sound awkward (but nevertheless, remain correct). I would veer toward using 练 as the verb for Martial Arts because it means to "practice" the martial art, which is something that everybody does no matter what the point of the martial art is. </p>

<p>To list your other sports:
hockey 打曲棍球</p>

<p>polo 打马球</p>

<p>skiing 滑雪</p>

<p>snowboarding 滑雪板</p>

<p>surfing 冲浪</p>

<p>sailing 帆船</p>

<p>swimming 游泳</p>

<p>triathlon 跑（铁人）三项</p>

<p>running 跑步</p>

<p>climbing 爬山 or 攀岩</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-12T07:50:25.130Z
2019-08-12T07:50:25.130Z
Marko
<p>Verbs can be quite complex in Chinese, because the way you describe the action depends on what you want to emphasize. There are different forms of martial arts where 打 OR 踢 are applicable depending on the style/form and the specific action used. For example, Judo doesn't seem to involve striking an opponent with your foot, and Tae Kwon Do seems to be exclusively using the feet.</p>

<p>In the example you provided, the word 打 in 打篮球 is actually a generic term used to talk about 'playing' or 'participating' in a sport (it can also mean to strike, which makes it a little bit confusing). So you can say play basketball, tennis and even Tai Chi (打太极拳) and it would be perfectly acceptable.</p>

<p>However, if you want to be more specific about the action, 打篮球 and 投篮球 mean very different things because the latter refers to the actual action of shooting a basketball, and you can also use the term 射球 in the context of a basketball game to refer to a shot or shooting the ball.</p>

<p>I think because there is a difference in sports involving the hands, which can be a direct strike or with an implement like a bat or racquet, or using different actions of the hand/arm, it means that there are more ways to describe the action compared to sports where you use the foot or leg (which is generally contacting the ball or person directly), and that's where 踢 is used.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-15T05:47:32.717Z
2019-08-15T05:47:32.717Z
Michael Lai
<p>For sports you have some verbs like 打 when you do the sport with your hand like 打篮球 or 踢 when you do it with your feet like 踢足球. What about sports you use both hands and feet or none? What verb accompanies the main verb? For example in the sports below:</p>

<p>Karate, judo, all martial arts.</p>

<p>Hockey, polo </p>

<p>Ski, snowboard, surfing, sailing.</p>

<p>Swimming, triathlon, running, climbing</p>

<sport>
Sports verbs 打 and 踢: which one is suitable for martial arts?
# Sports verbs 打 and 踢: which one is suitable for martial arts?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-08-12)

For sports you have some verbs like 打 when you do the sport with your hand like 打篮球 or 踢 when you do it with your feet like 踢足球. What about sports you use both hands and feet or none? What verb accompanies the main verb? For example in the sports below:

Karate, judo, all martial arts.

Hockey, polo

Ski, snowboard, surfing, sailing.

Swimming, triathlon, running, climbing

**Tags:** sport


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-08-12. Score: 3

Generally speaking, when it comes to sports, Chinese constructs the actions using a verb-object composition. 打 and 踢 are certainly not the only verbs that can be used.

To answer the question in your title, the correct verb to use for Martial Arts is 打 if the Martial Arts in question has a "fist" in the title (e.g. 打太极拳) or 练 (e.g. 练武术). Very often the two are interchangeable, though that may sometimes sound awkward (but nevertheless, remain correct). I would veer toward using 练 as the verb for Martial Arts because it means to "practice" the martial art, which is something that everybody does no matter what the point of the martial art is.

To list your other sports:
hockey 打曲棍球

polo 打马球

skiing 滑雪

snowboarding 滑雪板

surfing 冲浪

sailing 帆船

swimming 游泳

triathlon 跑（铁人）三项

running 跑步

climbing 爬山 or 攀岩


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### Answer by username_2 on 2019-08-15. Score: 0

Verbs can be quite complex in Chinese, because the way you describe the action depends on what you want to emphasize. There are different forms of martial arts where 打 OR 踢 are applicable depending on the style/form and the specific action used. For example, Judo doesn't seem to involve striking an opponent with your foot, and Tae Kwon Do seems to be exclusively using the feet.

In the example you provided, the word 打 in 打篮球 is actually a generic term used to talk about 'playing' or 'participating' in a sport (it can also mean to strike, which makes it a little bit confusing). So you can say play basketball, tennis and even Tai Chi (打太极拳) and it would be perfectly acceptable.

However, if you want to be more specific about the action, 打篮球 and 投篮球 mean very different things because the latter refers to the actual action of shooting a basketball, and you can also use the term 射球 in the context of a basketball game to refer to a shot or shooting the ball.

I think because there is a difference in sports involving the hands, which can be a direct strike or with an implement like a bat or racquet, or using different actions of the hand/arm, it means that there are more ways to describe the action compared to sports where you use the foot or leg (which is generally contacting the ball or person directly), and that's where 踢 is used.


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