蹴鞠

cùjū

noun

Meanings

1 cuju
2 ancient Chinese football

Characters

Examples

HSK 5

蹴鞠是中国古代的一种足球游戏。

Cùjū shì Zhōngguó gǔdài de yì zhǒng zúqiú yóuxì.

Cuju was a football game played in ancient China.

HSK 7-9

宋代蹴鞠非常流行，连皇帝都喜欢踢。

Sòngdài cùjū fēicháng liúxíng, lián huángdì dōu xǐhuan tī.

Cuju was hugely popular in the Song dynasty; even emperors loved to play.

Tips

history

蹴 'to kick' + 鞠 'leather ball'. Played since the Warring States period, it peaked in the Song, when 高俅 is said to have won Emperor Huizong's favor with his footwork. In 2004 FIFA recognized cuju as the earliest form of football, with 临淄 in Shandong as its birthplace.

Stroke Order

蹴 cù

鞠 jū