Yao Ming’s No.11 Jersey Is Now 退役 (tuìyì): What’s That Mean?

Basketball player 姚明 Yao Ming is the most famous athlete in China's history. Yao played for the Shanghai Sharks from 1997 to 2002 and then played for the NBA's Houston Rockets from 2002 to 2011. Standing 7'6" tall (229cm), Yao was dominating in the position of "center" and was elected as an "All-Star" eight times. Yao Ming stopped playing basketball professionally in 2011. Since then, he has been honored many times for his accomplishments. His NBA retirement speech is famous in China, when he used the Mandarin Chinese term 万事如意 (wànshìrúyì) which means "follow your dreams".

In 2016, Yao Ming was elected to the NBA Hall of Fame along with Shaquille O'Neil and Alan Iverson. This was a big event for Yao and for all of China, as he was the first Asian player to be given this honor.

In 2017 the Houston Rockets had a ceremony and "退役 (tuìyì) retired" Yao's jersey No.11. This means that no future Houston Rocket will ever wear No.11 again. In his speech, Yao said that it was "the highest honor a player can achieve for themselves and for the team."

Language Point:

"退役 (tuìyì)" is used as a verb for "retire" and is often used for those leaving the military. In this case, Yao's No. 11 basketball jersey was 退役 (tuìyì) retired" by the Houston Rockets of the NBA.

Examples of "退役 (tuìyì)" in a sentence:

Tā shì yí wèi tuìyì de hǎijūn jūnguān.
他 是 一 位 退役 的 海军 军官。
He is a retired naval officer.

Tā yīnwèi shòushāng ér tuìyì le.
他 因为 受伤 而 退役 了。
He was released from the army because of the wounds he suffered.

Everyone likes to take a break from the books. One of the best ways to keep learning without taxing your brain too much is to watch a movie. Don't worry, a little relaxation won't hurt. And after all, what's the use of learning Chinese without learning a bit about Chinese culture too? Here are five of China's best films:

1. Beijing Bicycle 十七岁的单车 (Shíqīsuì de dānchē)
Like so many countries, China loves drama. This film tells the story of Guei, a young countryside boy who loses his bike in Beijing and goes looking for it. Along the way he meets another boy at a thrift market attempting to buy the bike. This classic film explores boyhood, relationships, and social issues in China. Highly recommended.

2. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 卧虎藏龙 (Wò hǔ cáng lóng)
You've probably heard of this renowned martial arts masterpiece from director Ang Lee. If you haven't, where have you been? Two warriors and a fugitive in search of a mysterious sword encounter a young and preternaturally skilled nobleman's daughter on their quest. Fighting ensues.

3. The Last Emperor 末代皇帝 (Mòdài huángdì)
An epic tale of the last Chinese emperor before China's transition to communist rule. This movie racked up all nine Academy Awards that it was nominated for, and for good reason. The Last Emperor is a landmark film that recounts a story little known in the West, and it's a visual feast unlike any other.

Click "Read more" to know more Chinese Film Masterpieces.