Abstract: Esports is one of the fastest growing and the most important cultural phenomenon in the contemporary era. The evolution and determination of esports appellation indicates that it has become an independent form of activity. At the same time, the name of "esports" is directly related to "sports". Whether esports is a sport is still a matter of debate. Based on these two key questions, this paper, using the theoretical methods of comparative literature etymology and cultural studies, analyzes the origin and influence of esports as a cultural phenomenon, and focuses on the status of esports research in Chinese academic circles. To clarify the name and nature of esports is the first and crucial step of the academic research on the standardization of esports research, it also helps to clarify the relationship between esports and sports.

Key words: electronic sports, esports, video games, sports, culture studies