Can you imagine the world without sports? Sports have been an essential part of our lives. In today’s post, we will learn about Cantonese sports vocabulary or 運動 Wan6 Dung6. If you are ready for that, keep on reading below!
We mostly associate sports with medals, winning, achieving goals, and defeating opponents when we think about sports. But, sports is more than that. It is more than just becoming a great player and winning every match you have. It focuses more on the essential life skills you can use in games and everyday life. Perhaps, it is also one of your hobbies, or you are doing it for health reasons.
Now, you’re because sports is something special for you. This blog will help you learn Cantonese sports vocabulary. The words you will be learning have English translations that will help you widen your language for free. But, if you’re looking forward to learning more Cantonese, you can start learning with Ling App. This is a fun and meaningful way to learn a language without the help of a teacher. You can also share it with your friends and study together.
Traditional Chinese VS Simplified Chinese
運動 (Wan6 Dung6)- Sports
The first word that you should learn in the Cantonese Sports Vocabulary is “Sport.” The Cantonese word for sports is 運動 (Wan6 Dung6). However, if you have encountered the word 运动(yùndòng), don’t be confused because it is in the Mandarin language.
If you’re a beginner at learning Cantonese, you should know that many Chinese languages are spoken in different Chinese countries. Two of them are Cantonese, the Traditional Chinese, and Mandarin, also called Simplified Chinese. These two Chinese languages came from the same roots, but they are very different. If you want to learn Chinese, you should know the difference between Mandarin and Cantonese to know which language is more practical to learn first. We suggest to check out the Cantonese alphabet to help you decide.
Sports In Hong Kong
Sport is an important part of Hong Kong’s culture. Not just for health concerns in Hong Kong, it is a hobby that everyone enjoys. With the British influence, it is not surprising that Hong Kong’s sports are traditionally western sports like Basketball, cycling, Football, Badminton, and Badminton. These sports are still widely played in the country up until today.
Hong Kong initially competed in the Commonwealth Games in 1934 as a British colony or dependent territory, and then again from 1954 to 1962 and 1970 to 1994. In 1952, Hong Kong participated in the Olympic Games as part of the British delegation for the first time. This was when Hong Kong started to send athletes to the Olympics as part of the British delegation or China delegation. But, in the year 1980, Hong Kong participated in boycotting the Olympics. For the Winter Games, Hong Kong first attended in 2002.
Since then, Hong Kong’s athletes have been bringing home success. Lee Lai Shan won their first Olympic gold medal in women’s mistral individual event in sailing in Atlanta 1996. In 2004, Hong Kong also won a silver Olympic medal for men’s double event in table tennis. Their Cricket Team also qualified to the ICC World Twenty2 in 2014 by defeating Bangladesh, the home nation at that time.
Hong Kong’s major events are Hong Kong at the Summer Olympics, Hong Kong at the Winter Olympics, Hong Kong at the Cricket T20 World Cup, and Hong Kong at the Commonwealth Games. There are also annual sporting events held in Hong Kong like Hong Kong Rugby Sevens (one of the most significant rugby events), Hong Kong Marathon (largest outdoor sporting event), and Lunar New Year Cup (an international football tournament).
Whether you’re an athlete or just a fan, you’ll take time to visit some of the places where sports are usually held. Sports in Hong Kong are usually held in the following Hong Kong locations:
- Victoria Park (維多利亞公園 wai4 do1 lei6 ngaa3 gung1 jyun4)
- Hong Kong Stadium (香港大球場 hoeng1 gong2 daai6 kau4 coeng4)
- Happy Valley Recreation Ground (跑馬地遊樂場 paau2 maa5 dei6 jau4 lok6 coeng4)
- King’s Park Sports Ground (京士柏運動場 ging1 si6 paak3 wan6 dung6 coeng4)
- Quarry Bay Park (鰂魚涌公園 zak1 jyu4 jung2 gung1 jyun4)
Hong Kong’s success in sports can’t be achieved without hard-working and talented athletes. So let’s name a few of Hong Kong’s athletes that brought honor to their country:
- Lee Lai-shan– First Olympic gold medallist
- Lee Wai-sze – Two-time bronze medal-winning cyclist
- Ng On-yee – Won three IBSF World Snooker Championships and three World Women’s Snooker world championships
- Grace Lau – first Hong Kong athlete who won an Olympic medal in karate; bronze in the women’s kata event at the 2020 Summer Olympics
- Shek Wai Hung – gymnast; current Asian Games champion on vault
There’s a lot to know about sports in Hong Kong, but this might be enough to give you an idea on what hobby in Cantonese you should check out first. Now let us learn different sports and words related to sports in Cantonese.
Top Sports In Hong Kong
Sports in Hong Kong have a fascinating history that can be traced back to 1934 or earlier. Since then, it has been a part of their lives, whether for competition or just leisure. So, let us start learning some Cantonese sports vocabulary by naming different sports in Cantonese. If you’re new to learning Cantonese, every Cantonese character has a romanization provided and its English meaning, so you don’t have to worry too much.
足球 (Zuk1 Kau4) – Football (Soccer)
The first Cantonese sports vocabulary we will learn is 足球 (Zuk1 Kau4) or Football. The Hong Kong Football Association, created in 1914, promotes local football participation. Hong Kong Premier League, the highest division in Hong Kong, was founded in 2014. They also have the Hong Kong Junior Football League, which is for children under 14.
Some famous football players in Hong Kong are Chan Siu Ki, Lee Chi Ho, Chan Wai Ho, Cheung Sai Ho, and Yapp Hung Fai. Football matches between professionals, kids, and amateurs provide high-quality competition to promote the sport in Hong Kong.
羽毛球 (Jyu5 Mou4 Kau4) – Badminton
We will learn the following Cantonese sports vocabulary that we will learn is 羽毛球 – (Jyu5 Mou4 Kau4) or Badminton. The Hong Kong Badminton Association was established in 1934 to handle training and events for badminton players in Hong Kong. It has also been the Hong Kong Open Badminton Championships since 1982, which aims to attract the top-ranked player.
Some of the top players you can hear in Badminton are Wang Chen, Angus Ng Ka Long, Tse Ying Suet, Tang Chun Man, Cheung Ngan Yi, and Chau Hoi Wah.
This sport is one of the most common sports both professionals and not. Both young and old people can also play it. In Hong Kong, there are free outdoor public courts where locals can play Badminton. There are also indoor courts for hire by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
跑馬 (Paau2 Maa5) – Horse Racing
Horse racing or 跑馬 (Paau2 Maa5) is another interesting Cantonese sports vocabulary to learn. The Hong Kong Jockey Club, which is the one that organizes horse racing events, began as an amateur club in 1884 and became a professional organization in 1971. It is the only authorized operator of horse racing in Hong Kong. It also manages three public riding schools – Tuen Mun, Pokfulam, Lei Yue Mun, and the Beas River Riding School.
In Hong Kong, they held the Longines Hong Kong International Races, one of the most significant events on the racing calendar. If this even interests you, you can visit Hong Kong in December. This is pretty exciting because it draws owners and trainers from different parts of the world.
鬥龍船 (Dau3 Lung4 Syun4) – Dragon Boat Racing
Another amazing animal in Cantonese that you can ride is a dragon! Weird as it may sound, dragon boat racing or 鬥龍船 (Dau3 Lung4 Syun4) is an essential Cantonese sports vocabulary that you should learn. A dragon boat is a human-powered watercraft that originated in China’s southern Guangdong Province’s Pearl River Delta region. The hull of a dragon boat is decorated with a decorative Chinese dragon head, tail, and scales.
Dragon Boat Racing is one of the most colorful and highly competitive summer events in Hong Kong. This is held annually during the Tuen Ng Festival around May or June on the Western calendar. During this race, teams of paddlers paddle rapidly to the beat of a drum, creating a breathtakingly entertaining and colorful spectacle for onlookers. This is entertaining to watch, showing how colorful their culture is.
踏單車 (Daap6 Daan1 Ce1) – Cycling
Hong Kong has busy, congested, hectic, and steep streets. With this, it’s hard to imagine at first that cycling 踏單車 (Daap6 Daan1 Ce1) is one of the most common sports in Hong Kong. This is what makes it a valuable Cantonese sports vocabulary to learn.
Hong Kong offers a wide range of cycling opportunities, from crowded city streets to quiet bike trails in the New Territories and outlying islands. You can even hike in some Hong Kong mountainous areas while cycling too. Some of the best cycling routes in Hong Kong are New Territories Cycle Network, Tai Po to Tai Mei Tuk, Nam Sang Wai, Po Kong Village Park, and Tai Wai/Sha Tin to Tai Po.
In Hong Kong, this organization is called the Cycling Association of Hong Kong, which oversees the Hong Kong Cycling team. It also organizes educational activities and local road cycling races. If you’re interested, you can take note of this information to have a safe and smooth cycling experience in Hong Kong.
籃球 (Laam4 Kau4) – Basketball
The following Cantonese sports vocabulary that you surely want to learn is 籃球 (Laam4 Kau4) or Basketball. If you’re from a different country, particularly a Western country, you might be surprised that Basketball in Hong Kong is not as hyped as the NBA. But, local teams have improved a lot which interests people to follow the games.
The Hong Kong Basketball Team is the country’s official basketball team. It is managed by the Hong Kong Basketball Association, which also oversees the training programs to develop the players. Some famous basketball players in Hong Kong are Adam Xu, Ricky Yang, Lee Ki, Leung Shiu Wah, and Lin Ho Chun.
Hong Kong also has the Hong Kong Development Basketball League, a social, recreational league for women. They also have a league for children under 14 called the Hong Kong Junior Basketball League.
游泳 (Jau4 Wing6) – Swimming
Swimming is also an essential Cantonese sports vocabulary to learn. This sport is a popular and affordable way to stay fit in Hong Kong, especially in summer. In Hong Kong, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department maintains all the public swimming pools. The Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association organizes all the swimming sports in Hong Kong. These swimming sports include swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, open-water swimming, and water polo.
When we talk about swimming success, it’s impossible not to mention the name, Siobhan Bernadette Haughey. She is the Hong Kong swimmer to win an Olympic medal. She is also the first Hong Kong athlete to win two Olympic medals in any sport. Other famous swimmers in Hong Kong are Stephanie Au, Yin Yan Claudia Lau, Camille Cheng, Geoffrey Cheah, and Jamie Yeung.
Other Sports In Cantonese
Now that you have learned the most common sports in Hong Kong, here are other sports that you can add to your Cantonese sports vocabulary.
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English Translation |
| 田徑 | tin4 ging3 | athletics |
| 射箭 | se6 zin3 | archery |
| 沙灘排球 | saa1 taan1 paai4 kau4 | beach volleyball |
| 保齡 | bou2 ling4 | bowling |
| 拳擊 | kyun4 gik1 | boxing |
| 木球 | muk6 kau4 | cricket |
| 棋 | kei2 | chess |
| 漁業 | jyu4 jip6 | fishing |
| 哥爾夫球 | go1 ji5 fu1 kau4 | golf |
| 體操 | tai2 cou1 | gymnastics |
| 騎馬 | ke4 maa5 | horseback riding |
| 跑步 | paau2 bou6 | running |
| 跑步比賽 | paau2 bou6 bei2 coi3 | running race |
| 潛水 | cim4 seoi2 | scuba diving |
| 滑浪 | waat6 long6 | surfing |
| 滑板運動 | waat6 baan2 wan6 dung6 | skateboarding |
| 網球 | mong5 kau4 | tennis |
| 乒乓波 | bing1 bam1 bo1 | table tennis |
| 田徑 | tin4 ging3 | track and field |
| 排球 | paai4 kau4 | volleyball |
Common Cantonese Sports Vocabulary
After learning the different sports, here are some useful Cantonese sports vocabulary that you’ll often hear if you’re into sports.
運動員 (Wan6 Dung6 Jyun4)- Athlete
Being an athlete is one of the most challenging roles in the world. That’s why it is an essential Cantonese sports vocabulary to learn. Professional or not, it requires total commitment and dedication to their chosen track. It will take a lot of time, effort, suffering, frustrations, and challenges. Aside from strictly maintaining their body to be physically fit, they also have to take care of their mental health because there will be a lot of challenges that they will face.
Having unique Cantonese character traits, awesome skills, and admirable characteristics is innate in athletes. Aside from these innate characteristics, athletes will genuinely learn when they are already in the game and competing with other athletes. This is where they will learn the essential skills they need to have to develop their full potential and get through difficult times.
If you want to be an athlete, here are some traits that you should have or demonstrate:
- Self-Confidence
- Self-Discipline
- Focus
- Motivation
- Optimism
- Leadership
- Competitive Spirit
- Poise under Stress
- Acceptance of Criticism
- Resiliency
訓練 (Fan3 Lin6) – Training
Another essential Cantonese sports vocabulary is the training or 訓練 (Fan3 Lin6). Training is one of the most challenging and frustrating parts of being an athlete. You’ll get tired, you’ll get sick, and you can even get injured. Sometimes, you’ll also be tempted to skip training and find other things to do. Did you know that even Muhammad Ali hated his training? But like what he said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a championship.” This is such a short but compelling statement.
運動服 (Wan6 Dung6 Fuk6) – Sportswear
The following essential Cantonese vocabulary to learn is 運動服 (Wan6 Dung6 Fuk6) or Sportswear. Appropriate attire, tools, and equipment are essential in playing sports. Gearing up appropriately will also keep you safe from injuries and other accidents that may occur. Some famous brands for sports are Nike, Under Armour, Adidas, Puma, New Balance, Lululemon Athletica, Asics, and Columbia Sportswear.
體育精神 (Tai2 Juk6 Zing1 San4) – Sportsmanship
One of the essential things to learn when you are an athlete is Sportsmanship 體育精神 (Tai2 Juk6 Zing1 San4). They say that good sportsmanship goes beyond the game; it starts with respect. Sportsmanship cannot be learned by just watching games or training alone. It is learned during games. Every athlete should understand that their response to winning and losing makes them a winner or a loser.
Other Cantonese Sports Vocabulary
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English Translation |
| 競技場 | ging3 gei6 coeng4 | arena |
| 獎 | zoeng2 | award |
| 羽毛球場 | jyu5 mou4 kau4 coeng4 | badminton court |
| 篤波 | duk1 bo1 | billiard |
| 教練 | gaau3 lin6 | coach |
| 船長 | syun4 zoeng2 | captain |
| 冠軍 | gun3 gwan1 | champion |
| 歡呼 | fun1 fu1 | cheer |
| 競爭對手 | ging3 zang1 deoi3 sau2 | competitor |
| 比賽 | bei2 coi3 | competition, race |
| 球場 | kau4 coeng4 | court |
| 單車競賽 | daan1 ce1 ging6 coi3 | cycling race |
| 失敗 | sat1 baai6 | defeat |
| 防守 | fong4 sau2 | defend |
| 草坪 | cou2 ping4 | field |
| 外野手 | ngoi6 je5 sau2 | fielder |
| 射門得分 | se6 mun4 dak1 fan1 | field goal |
| 騎師 | ke4 si1 | jockey |
| 奥林匹克 | ou3 lam4 pat1 haak1 | Olympics |
| 捷泳 | zit3 wing | front crawl (swimming) |
| 蝶泳 | dip6 wing6 | butterfly stroke (swimming) |
| 國際比賽 | gwok3 zai3 bei2 coi3 | international competition |
| 聯賽 | lyun4 coi3 | league |
| 輸 | syu1 | lose |
| 敵手 | dik6 sau2 | opponent |
| 職業運動員 | zik1 jip6 wan6 dung6 jyun4 | professional athlete |
| 波地 | bo1 dei6 | pitch |
| 罰球 | fat6 kau4 | penalty |
| 健身教練 | gin6 san1 gaau3 lin6 | personal trainer |
| 規程 | kwai1 cing4 | rules |
| 裁判 | coi4 pun3 | referee |
| 分數 | fan1 sou3 | score |
| 記分牌 | gei3 fan1 paai2 | scoreboard |
| 滑板 | waat6 baan2 | skateboard |
| 競渡 | ging6 dou6 | swimming competition |
| 體育俱樂部 | tai2 juk6 keoi1 lok6 bou6 | sports club |
| 泳帽 | wing6 mou2 | swimming cap |
| 泳褲 | wing6 fu3 | swimming trunks |
| 泳鏡 | wing6 geng3 | swimming goggles |
| 游泳池 | jau4 wing6 ci4 | swimming pool |
| 羽毛球 | jyu5 mou4 kau4 | shuttlecock |
| 體育館 | tai2 juk6 gun2 | stadium |
| 潛水器材 | cim4 seoi2 hei3 coi4 | Scuba-Diving Equipment |
| 攔阻 | laan4 zo2 | tackle |
| 競逐 | ging3 zuk6 | to compete |
| 隊 | deoi2 | teams |
| 隊友 | deoi6 jau5 | teammate |
| 淘汰賽 | tou4 taai3 coi3 | tournament |
| 團隊精神 | tyun4 deoi2 zing1 san4 | teamwork, team spirit |
| 勝利 | sing3 lei6 | victory |
| 世界盃 | sai3 gaai3 bui1 | World Cup |
| 贏 | jeng4 | win |
Some Sentences To Practice
| Cantonese | Jyutping | English Translation |
| 運動員正在打棒球。 | wan6 dung6 jyun4 zing3 zoi6 daa2 paang5 kau4. | The players are playing baseball. |
| 年輕男人正在打網球。 | nin4 hing1 naam4 jan2 zing3 zoi6 daa2 mong5 kau4. | The young men are playing tennis. |
| 哥爾夫球手把球推進洞。 | go1 ji5 fu1 kau4 sau2 baa2 kau4 teoi1 zeon3 dung6. | The golfer puts the ball into the hole. |
| 男孩及女孩們正在打籃球。 | naam4 haai4 kap6 neoi5 haai4 mun4 zing3 zoi6 daa2 laam4 kau4. | The boys and girls are playing Basketball. |
| 我們去海灘打排球吧。 | ngo5 mun4 heoi3 hoi2 taan1 daa2 paai4 kau4 baa6. | Let’s play volleyball at the beach. |
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