Kung Fu
/ˌkʊŋ ˈfuː/noun
A Chinese martial-arts practice, especially one associated with traditional Chinese fighting systems.
Did you know?In Chinese, 功夫 could describe any skill perfected through sustained effort, including craftsmanship, cooking, or calligraphy—not just combat.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Chinese
Classical Chinese
功夫
“功: achievement, merit, or skill; 夫: a measure or period of time, giving the sense of skill acquired through effort and time”
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
kung fu
“A period of work, effort, or cultivated skill; pronunciation later developed differently across Chinese varieties”
Modern Mandarin
Mandarin
gōngfu
“Skill, ability, or accomplishment developed through practice; also used for traditional martial arts”
19th Century
English
kung-fu
“An English rendering of the Chinese term, increasingly associated with Chinese martial arts”
Modern English
English
kung fu
“Chinese martial arts, especially traditional systems emphasizing disciplined training”