The World Cup is here! Learn these Chinese words related to the big event and impress your friends:

1. 世界杯 (shì jiè bēi ) World Cup

Example: 我爱世界杯! (wǒ ài shìjièbēi ) I love the World Cup!

2. 足球 (zú qiú) football/soccer

Example: 许多男孩喜欢踢足球。(xǔduō nánhái xǐhuan tī zúqiú) Many boys like to play football.

3. 俄罗斯 (é luó sī) Russia

Example: 今年的世界杯赛事在俄罗斯举行。(jīnnián de shìjièbēi sàishì zài é luó sī jǔxíng) The World Cup tournament will be held in Russia this year.

4. 莫斯科 (mò sī kē) Moscow

Example: 莫斯科是俄罗斯最大的城市。(mò sī kē shì é luó sī zuìdà de chéngshì) Moscow is the biggest city in Russia.

5. 圣彼得堡 (shèng bǐ débǎo) Saint Petersburg

Example: 世界杯决赛在圣彼得堡举行。 (shì jiè bēi jué sài zài shèng bǐ débǎo jǔ xíng)  The World Cup finals will be played in Saint Petersburg.

6. 进球 (jìn qiú) to score a goal

Example: 他在这场比赛中取得了3个进球。(Tā zài zhè chǎng bǐsài zhōng qǔdéle 3 gè jìn qiú) He scored three goals in this match.

7. 进攻 (jìn gōng) offense / offence

Example: 德国足球队擅长进攻。(dé guó zúqiú duì shàncháng jìngōng) Germany’s football team is good at offense.

8. 防守 (fáng shǒu) defense / defence

Example: 西班牙足球队防守很好。(xī bān yá zúqiú duì fángshǒu hěn hǎo) = Spain’s football team plays very well on defense.

9. 越位 (yuè wèi) offside

Example: 他射门之前已经越位了。(Tā shèmén zhīqián yǐjīng yuèwèile) He was offside before he shot the ball.

10. 角球 (jiǎo qiú) corner kick

Example: 我们要把握这次角球机会得分。(Wǒmen yào bǎwò zhè cì jiǎoqiú jīhuì défēn) We should take advantage of this corner kick to score.

11. 犯规 (fàn guī) foul

Example: 这名球员犯规了很多次。(zhè míng qiúyuán fànguīle hěnduō cì) This player has fouled many times.

12. 任意球 (rèn yì qiú) free-kick

Example: 梅西很擅长踢任意球。(méi xī hěn shàncháng tī rènyì qiú) Messi is very good at free-kicks.

13. 黄牌 (huáng pái) yellow card

Example: 裁判向他出示了黄牌。(Cáipàn xiàng tā chūshìle huángpái) The referee gave him a yellow card.

14. 红牌 (hóng pái) red card

Example: 他被红牌罚出了场。(Tā bèi hóngpái fá chūle chǎng) He was sent off the pitch by a red card.

15. 假摔 (jiǎ shuāi) dive

Example: 球迷因为他的假摔疯狂地嘘他。(Qiúmí yīnwèi tā de jiǎ shuāi fēngkuáng de xū tā) The fans booed him like crazy because of his “dive”.

16. 点球 (diǎn qiú) penalty

Example: 队长准备主罚点球。(Duìzhǎng zhǔnbèi zhǔ fá diǎn qiú) The captain was ready to take the penalty kick.

17. 传球 (chuán qiú) pass

Example: 他喜欢传球给他的队友。(tā xǐhuan chuán qiú gěi tā de duìyǒu) He likes to pass the ball to his teammates.

18. 头球 (tóu qiú) header

Example: 他争抢头球时跳的很高。(Tā zhēng qiǎng tóu qiú shí tiào de hěn gāo) He jumped very high to fight over the header.

19. 运球 (yùn qiú) dribble

Example: 他最近在练习运球。(Tā zuìjìn zài liànxí yùn qiú) He was practicing dribbling recently.

20. 帽子戏法 (mào zi xì fǎ) hat-trick

Example: 罗纳尔多打进3球完成帽子戏法。(Luónà’ěrduō dǎ jìn 3 qiú wánchéng màozi xìfǎ) Ronaldo scored three goals to complete the hat-trick.