====== xuǎnshǒu: 选手 - Contestant, Player, Athlete ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** xuanshou, 选手, Chinese for contestant, Chinese for player, Chinese for athlete, sports in Chinese, competition in Chinese, 选手 meaning, how to say player in Chinese, e-sports player in Chinese, competitor
  * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **选手 (xuǎnshǒu)**, the go-to term for any "contestant," "player," or "athlete" in a formal competition. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance in China's competitive society, and practical usage in contexts from the Olympics and e-sports to TV talent shows. Master **选手** to talk about your favorite players and understand a key aspect of modern Chinese culture.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** xuǎnshǒu
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** A person selected to participate in a competition, match, or contest.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **选手 (xuǎnshǒu)** is the universal word for someone who competes. If you're in an organized event—whether it's a sport, a video game tournament, a chess match, or a singing contest—you are a **选手**. The word emphasizes that you have been "selected" or are qualified to be there, making it more formal than just "player" in a casual sense.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **选 (xuǎn):** This character means "to select," "to choose," or "to pick." It implies a process of evaluation or qualification.
  * **手 (shǒu):** This character literally means "hand." In many Chinese words, it acts as a suffix to denote a person who performs a certain action or has a specific skill (e.g., 歌手 gēshǒu - singer, literally "song-hand").
  * When combined, **选手 (xuǎnshǒu)** literally translates to a "selected hand" or "chosen person." This beautifully captures the idea of an individual who has been chosen from a larger group to represent a team, school, or country in a competitive event.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * In China, competition (竞争 - jìngzhēng) is a major part of life, from the rigorous national college entrance exams (高考 - gāokǎo) to the intense pursuit of national glory in the Olympics. The term **选手** is therefore deeply embedded in the cultural psyche.
  * Being a **选手**, especially one representing a collective like a city or the nation, carries a significant amount of honor and pressure. It's not just about individual performance but about bringing glory to the group. This reflects the collectivist values present in Chinese society.
  * **Comparison to "Player/Athlete":** In English, you might call someone a "player" even in a casual pickup game. However, you would almost never use **选手** for such an informal situation. **选手** implies a formal setting and a selection process. For example, a group of friends playing basketball are just playing (打球 - dǎqiú), but the members of the official school team competing in a tournament are all **选手**. The term elevates the status from a casual participant to a formal competitor.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * **选手** is a very common and versatile term used across many domains.
  * **Sports (体育 - tǐyù):** This is the most common context.
    * `奥运选手 (Àoyùn xuǎnshǒu)` - Olympic athlete
    * `篮球选手 (lánqiú xuǎnshǒu)` - Basketball player (in a competition)
    * `游泳选手 (yóuyǒng xuǎnshǒu)` - Swimmer (competitor)
  * **E-sports (电竞 - diànjìng):** E-sports are a massive industry in China, and its participants are always referred to as **选手**.
    * `职业电竞选手 (zhíyè diànjìng xuǎnshǒu)` - Professional e-sports player
  * **Talent Shows and Contests (选秀/比赛):** For any televised or formal contest, participants are called **选手**.
    * `这位唱歌比赛的选手很有才华。(Zhè wèi chànggē bǐsài de xuǎnshǒu hěn yǒu cáihuá.)` - This contestant from the singing competition is very talented.
  * **Connotation and Formality:** The term is neutral and slightly formal. It's the standard, correct term for a competitor in news reports, official announcements, and everyday conversation about competitive events.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 我最喜欢的篮球**选手**是姚明。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ zuì xǐhuān de lánqiú **xuǎnshǒu** shì Yáo Míng.
    * English: My favorite basketball player is Yao Ming.
    * Analysis: A simple, common way to talk about a favorite athlete. Here, **选手** is used for a professional sports player.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 这位年轻的**选手**在比赛中表现出色。
    * Pinyin: Zhè wèi niánqīng de **xuǎnshǒu** zài bǐsài zhōng biǎoxiàn chūsè.
    * English: This young contestant performed outstandingly in the competition.
    * Analysis: `位 (wèi)` is a polite measure word for people, often used with **选手** to show respect.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 成为一名职业电竞**选手**是他的梦想。
    * Pinyin: Chéngwéi yī míng zhíyè diànjìng **xuǎnshǒu** shì tā de mèngxiǎng.
    * English: Becoming a professional e-sports player is his dream.
    * Analysis: This shows the modern application of **选手** to the world of e-sports (电竞 - diànjìng).
  * **Example 4:**
    * 每一位**选手**都为这次奥运会准备了很久。
    * Pinyin: Měi yī wèi **xuǎnshǒu** dōu wèi zhè cì Àoyùnhuì zhǔnbèi le hěn jiǔ.
    * English: Every single athlete prepared for a long time for these Olympic Games.
    * Analysis: Highlights the dedication and formal context associated with being a **选手** at a major event like the Olympics (奥运会).
  * **Example 5:**
    * 对不起，三号**选手**，你被淘汰了。
    * Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, sān hào **xuǎnshǒu**, nǐ bèi táotài le.
    * English: Sorry, contestant number three, you have been eliminated.
    * Analysis: A typical phrase you would hear from a judge on a TV talent show or game show. `被淘汰 (bèi táotài)` means "to be eliminated."
  * **Example 6:**
    * 教练正在给**选手**们布置战术。
    * Pinyin: Jiàoliàn zhèngzài gěi **xuǎnshǒu**men bùzhì zhànshù.
    * English: The coach is laying out the strategy for the players.
    * Analysis: Shows the relationship between a `教练 (jiàoliàn)` - coach and the `选手 (xuǎnshǒu)` - players.
  * **Example 7业余**选手**和职业**选手**的水平差距很大。
    * Pinyin: Yèyú **xuǎnshǒu** hé zhíyè **xuǎnshǒu** de shuǐpíng chājù hěn dà.
    * English: The skill gap between amateur and professional players is very large.
    * Analysis: Demonstrates the use of **选手** for both amateur (`业余`) and professional (`职业`) competitors.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 参赛**选手**必须遵守所有比赛规则。
    * Pinyin: Cānsài **xuǎnshǒu** bìxū zūnshǒu suǒyǒu bǐsài guīzé.
    * English: The participating contestants must abide by all competition rules.
    * Analysis: `参赛 (cānsài)` means "to participate in a competition," so `参赛选手` is a very common and slightly more formal way to say "the contestants."
  * **Example 9:**
    * 那位象棋**选手**正在思考下一步。
    * Pinyin: Nà wèi xiàngqí **xuǎnshǒu** zhèngzài sīkǎo xià yí bù.
    * English: That chess player is thinking about his next move.
    * Analysis: This shows that **选手** isn't limited to physical sports; it applies to intellectual games like chess (`象棋`) as well.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 获胜**选手**将获得十万元奖金。
    * Pinyin: Huòshèng **xuǎnshǒu** jiāng huòdé shí wàn yuán jiǎngjīn.
    * English: The winning contestant will receive a prize of 100,000 yuan.
    * Analysis: `获胜 (huòshèng)` means "to win/be victorious." This sentence is typical of an announcement about a competition's prize.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Mistake 1: Using 选手 for casual play.**
    * A common mistake is to use **选手** for people playing a game informally. It sounds very strange in Chinese.
    * **Incorrect:** `公园里有很多**选手**在踢足球。` (Gōngyuán lǐ yǒu hěn duō xuǎnshǒu zài tī zúqiú.)
    * **Reason:** People playing for fun in a park are not "selected contestants." They are just people playing.
    * **Correct:** `公园里有很多人在踢足球。` (Gōngyuán lǐ yǒu hěn duō rén zài tī zúqiú.) - "There are many people playing soccer in the park."
  * **Mistake 2: Confusing 选手, 运动员, and 球员.**
    * These terms are related but not always interchangeable.
    * **选手 (xuǎnshǒu):** The broadest term. Anyone in any formal competition (sports, games, talent shows).
    * **[[运动员]] (yùndòngyuán):** Specifically an "athlete." Used only for sports. An Olympic swimmer is both a **选手** and an **运动员**. A singing contestant is a **选手** but not an **运动员**.
    * **[[球员]] (qiúyuán):** Specifically a "ball-game player" (球 qiú = ball). Used for sports like basketball, soccer, tennis, etc. A basketball player can be called a **选手**, an **运动员**, or a **球员**. A swimmer is a **选手** and an **运动员**, but not a **球员**.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * * [[运动员]] (yùndòngyuán) - Athlete. A more specific term for a person who engages in sports (运动).
  * * [[球员]] (qiúyuán) - Ball player. A person who plays a sport involving a ball (球). More specific than **选手**.
  * * [[比赛]] (bǐsài) - Competition; match; contest. This is the event where a **选手** competes.
  * * [[对手]] (duìshǒu) - Opponent; rival. The person or team a **选手** competes against. Literally "opposite hand."
  * * [[教练]] (jiàoliàn) - Coach. The person responsible for training a **选手**.
  * * [[冠军]] (guànjūn) - Champion. The ultimate goal for every **选手**.
  * * [[参赛]] (cānsài) - To participate in a competition. The verb that describes what a **选手** does.
  * * [[竞争]] (jìngzhēng) - To compete; competition (as an abstract concept). The environment in which a **选手** exists.
  * * [[淘汰]] (táotài) - To eliminate (from a competition). What happens to a **选手** who loses.