球

Phono-semantic compound:

玉 (jade, precious stone) – semantic element, indicating something round and ornamental like a bead;

求 (to seek, request) – phonetic element, giving the sound.

Originally meant a jade ball or spherical ornament, and later extended to mean ball, globe, or any spherical object.

球 is one of the most productive characters in modern vocabulary related to sports, science, and the Earth.

지구 (地球) – the Earth

구기 (球技) – ball games, sports

구체 (球體) – sphere, globular body

구속 (球束) – in sports, a pitch, throw

축구 (蹴球) – football, soccer

농구 (籠球) – basketball