'网球' literally means 'net ball'—a direct description of the sport: a ball hit back and forth over a net. The character 网 (wǎng) means 'net', evoking the central piece of equipment, while 球 (qiú) means 'ball', indicating the object used in play. Together, they form a compound noun that refers specifically to the sport of tennis, not any other net-based game like volleyball or badminton.

This word is commonly used in everyday contexts—such as talking about hobbies, school PE classes, professional sports, or weekend activities. It appears in compound terms like 网球拍 (wǎng qiú pāi, 'tennis racket'), 网球场 (wǎng qiú chǎng, 'tennis court'), and 网球赛 (wǎng qiú sài, 'tennis match'). Unlike some English loanwords, 网球 is fully native and widely understood across all Chinese-speaking regions, with no regional variation in meaning or usage.