Karate
/kəˈrɑːti/noun
A Japanese martial art that uses punches, strikes, kicks, and defensive techniques without weapons.
Did you know?The modern spelling 空手 was promoted in Japan partly to replace 唐手, “Tang/Chinese hand,” reflecting political tension and a desire to present karate as distinctly Japanese.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient China
Middle Chinese
唐
“Tang; the name of the Chinese dynasty that became associated with China and Chinese culture”
Early Okinawan Japanese
Okinawan Japanese
唐手
“Chinese hand or Tang hand; an early name for the Okinawan fighting tradition”
19th Century
Japanese
tōde / karate
“Readings of 唐手, referring to the Chinese-influenced martial art practiced in Okinawa”
1922
Japanese
空手
““Empty hand”; the name used by Gichin Funakoshi when introducing the art to mainland Japan”
1930s
Japanese
空手道
“The way of the empty hand; a formal name emphasizing karate as a disciplined martial path”
Modern English
English
karate
“A Japanese martial art, borrowed into English from Japanese”
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