play softball
softball 表示运动时不可数，不加冠词，常与 play 连用。
They play softball after work.
他们下班后打垒球。
垒球
垒球运动中使用的球；类似棒球的运动,场地较小,球较大且较软；垒球运动
the ball used in the game of softball
本义项指球，而非垒球运动
A game similar to baseball but played with a larger and softer ball which can be thrown overhand or underhand.
垒球运动中使用的球
ball used in playing softball
The ball used to play the sport.
类似棒球的运动,场地较小,球较大且较软
a game closely resembling baseball that is played on a smaller diamond and with a ball that is larger and softer
A question designed to be easy to answer.
The catcher threw the softball back to the pitcher.
捕手把垒球扔回给投手。
用法提示：softball 在此指垒球运动用的球，作名词，是 threw 的宾语。
She signed her name on the softball she caught at the game.
她在比赛中接到的那个垒球上签了名。
用法提示：softball 指具体的一个球，作名词，是介词 on 的宾语。
We bought a new softball for the school team.
我们为校队买了一个新垒球。
用法提示：softball 是名词，指比赛用球。
softball 表示运动时不可数，不加冠词，常与 play 连用。
They play softball after work.
他们下班后打垒球。
softball 可直接修饰名词，如 team、game、field，表示“垒球的”。
The school has a softball team.
这所学校有一支垒球队。
softball 指具体的球时可数，复数形式是 softballs。
She threw a softball to me.
她把一个垒球扔给我。
grammar · medium
易错句子I play soft ball every weekend.
正确表达I play softball every weekend.
softball 是固定的复合名词，指垒球运动（或垒球本身），不能拆成两个词；写成 soft ball 会变成“柔软的球”的意思。
grammar · medium
易错句子She likes playing softballs.
正确表达She likes playing softball.
表示垒球运动时 softball 是不可数名词，不用复数；softballs 只指多个垒球实物，不指这项运动。
grammar · medium
易错句子He plays in softball after school.
正确表达He plays softball after school.
动词 play 表示参加球类运动时直接接运动名称作宾语，中间不需要介词 in；只有说 play on a team 等才用介词。
义项为垒球运动或垒球，hardball 是其常用相对词，指棒球运动或硬式棒球；二者在指运动或球时互为对照。
垒球（softball）和棒球（baseball）是两种不同的运动：垒球球更大更软，常见下手投球；棒球球更小更硬，常见上手投球。
softball 是合成名词，指垒球运动或垒球；soft ball 是两个词，只表示“软的球”，不表示垒球运动。
打垒球
We play softball every Saturday.
我们每周六打垒球。
垒球队
She joined the school softball team.
她加入了学校垒球队。
垒球比赛
The softball game was postponed due to rain.
垒球比赛因雨推迟了。
垒球棒
He bought a new softball bat.
他买了一根新垒球棒。
垒球场
The children practiced on the softball field.
孩子们在垒球场上练习。
垒球联赛
Their team won the local softball league.
他们的队伍赢得了当地垒球联赛。
一个容易回答的问题
The reporter asked the politician a softball question about his family.
记者向那位政客问了一个关于他家庭的容易回答的问题。
给某人出个容易的问题；给某人一个轻松的机会
The teacher threw the shy student a softball to help him participate.
老师给那个害羞的学生抛出一个容易回答的问题，来帮助他参与。
提出一个容易的问题；故意把问题问得简单
The interviewer pitched a softball to break the ice.
主持人故意提出了一个容易的问题来打破僵局。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.