The Chinese yoyo, marketed in the West as the diabolo (commonly misspelled as diablo), is the Eastern counterpart to the Western yoyo. It is a traditional Chinese toy consisting of a spool which is whirled and tossed on a string tied to two sticks held one in each hand. It has several Chinese names, including 扯鈴, 中國搖搖, 響簧, 斗空竹, and 空竹.
Some Chinese yoyos are designed to make a whistling sound when spinning at high speed. They are often used in acrobatic or Chinese ethnic dance performance. The performance of Chinese yoyos is often considered a form of juggling. A huge variety of tricks are possible using the sticks, string, and various body parts. Multiple diabolos can be spun on a single string.
Chinese yoyos come in different shapes and materials. Large or heavy yoyos tend to retain their momentum longer, whereas small or light yoyos can be thrown higher and are faster to get spinning quickly. Rubber yoyo's are less prone to breakage, and metal yoyos can be set on fire.
Commonly-used Chinese yoyo terms: