Glossary

Basketball Terms Chinese-English Glossary

English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese basketball terms for modern tactics, actions, defenses, and roles.

Direct answer

How to use this glossary

Use the English term as the canonical basketball concept, then compare the Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese labels to keep coaching language consistent across languages. For high-value terms, the definition cell adds when a coach actually says it and a translation caveat — the common Chinese-English confusion to avoid.

Terms

English	Simplified Chinese	Traditional Chinese	Definition
Drop Coverage	沉退防守	沉退覆蓋	Ball-screen defender (POA) fights through screen or slides under (does not switch) When coaches say it: Called when the screener's big sinks toward the rim to wall off a ball screen. Watch the translation: 中文多译『沉退防守 / 退防』；勿译为『放投』——drop 让出的是中距离拉杆，不是主动放弃所有投篮。
ICE (In-and-out Contain Eliminate) Coverage	ICE 防守（逼边线防守）	ICE 覆蓋	Ball-screen defender (POA) forces handler away from screen (ices the screen by overplaying one side) When coaches say it: Called on a side ball screen to force the handler baseline, away from the middle. Watch the translation: 中文常直接说 ICE 或『强侧封堵 / 横切下压』；勿译为『包夹』——那是 blitz/trap。
Switch Coverage	换防防守	換防覆蓋	Ball-screen defender and big defender communicate and swap assignments When coaches say it: Called when two defenders trade assignments on a screen. Watch the translation: 中文『换防』；与『轮转』(rotation) 区分——换防是对位互换，轮转是补防移动。
Blitz/Trap Coverage	夹击/包夹防守	夾擊 / Blitz 覆蓋	Ball-screen defender (POA) fights through screen When coaches say it: Called when two defenders trap the ball handler off a ball screen. Watch the translation: 中文『包夹 / 夹击』；勿与 hedge『延阻』混用——包夹是两人真夹，延阻是大个短暂上提后退回。
Spain Pick & Roll	西班牙挡拆	西班牙擋拆	A three-player pick-and-roll where a third player back-screens the roller's defender to create a lob, layup, or pop-out three. When coaches say it: Called for a ball screen plus a back screen set on the roller's defender. Watch the translation: 中文『西班牙挡拆』；本质是『挡拆 + 对协防大个的反掩护(back screen)』，不是双掩护或手递手。
DHO (Dribble Handoff) Actions	手递手（DHO）动作	手遞手（運球換防）動作	The receiver's defender must navigate the handoff like a screen. When coaches say it: Called when a player dribbles at a teammate and hands the ball off. Watch the translation: 中文『手递手』(DHO)；是带球递交，不是传球后空切——与普通『传切』不同。
Ghost Screen Concept	幽灵掩护	幽靈掩護概念	A fake ball screen that manipulates switching rules by threatening contact, then slipping into space before the defense can settle. When coaches say it: Called when the screener fakes the screen and slips out without contact. Watch the translation: 中文『假掩护 / 幽灵掩护』；是佯装掩护后外弹，不是普通无球掩护。
BLOB (Baseline Out-of-Bounds) Fundamentals	底线球基础（BLOB）	底線發球（底線越界）基礎知識	BLOB plays are executed from the baseline when the ball goes out of bounds near your own basket or the opponent's basket. When coaches say it: Called for a baseline out-of-bounds play near the basket. Watch the translation: 中文『底线发球战术』(BLOB)；从端线发球，与边线发球 SLOB 区分。
SLOB (Sideline Out-of-Bounds) Basics	边线球基础（SLOB）	邊線發球（邊線出界）基礎知識	SLOB plays are executed from the sideline (not the baseline) when the ball goes out of bounds on the side. When coaches say it: Called for a sideline out-of-bounds play. Watch the translation: 中文『边线发球战术』(SLOB)；起点离篮更远，重在接球衔接，不像 BLOB 直接攻筐。
Motion Offense Principles	移动进攻原则	運動進攻原則	Motion offense is the foundation upon which all modern basketball systems are built. When coaches say it: Called for a rules-based read-and-react offense. Watch the translation: 中文『传切配合 / 动态进攻』；靠规则与阅读驱动，不是固定的『定位战术』(set play)。
5-Out Offense: Foundation	五外进攻：基础	5-Out 進攻：基礎	The modern spacing shell: five players outside the arc to open the paint, stretch help, and turn every drive into a read. When coaches say it: Said when all five players space beyond the arc to empty the paint. Watch the translation: 中文常说『五外』或『五外站位』；指五人拉到三分线外，勿与传统『五上』高位站位混淆。
Zone Defense Concepts	联防概念	區域聯防概念	The 2-3 zone is the most common zone defense in basketball. When coaches say it: Called when defenders guard areas instead of specific men. Watch the translation: 中文『区域联防』；2-3 / 1-3-1 指阵型，勿把『联防』与『包夹』混为一谈。