ボール
Meanings
1
General term for a spherical object used in sports, play, or as a shape. Covers balls of various sizes and materials.
The children are playing by kicking a ball in the park.
That cat loves balls of yarn.
2
ball (baseball pitch outside the strike zone)
Baseball term for a pitch that does not pass through the strike zone and is not swung at by the batter.
The umpire called that low pitch a ball.
That pitch was clearly outside the strike zone.
Usage patterns
- ボールを投げるto throw a ball
He threw the ball as hard as he could.
- ボールと判定されるto be called a ball (in baseball)
That pitch was called a ball.
- ボールを打つto hit a ball
I hit the ball with the bat.
- ボールを蹴るto kick a ball
The children are kicking a ball in the park.
- ボールが〈人〉に当たるfor a ball to hit someone
The ball hit my face and it hurt.