kung fu

American  

[kuhng foo, koong] / ˈkʌŋ ˈfu, ˈkʊŋ /

noun

1. an ancient Chinese method of self-defense by striking blows at vulnerable areas of an attacker's body using fluid movements of the hands and legs.

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kung fu British  

/ ˈkʌŋ ˈfuː /

noun

1. any of various Chinese martial arts, some focusing on unarmed combat, others involving the use of weapons

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Etymology

Origin of kung fu

From the Chinese word gōngf ú literally, skill

Compare meaning

How does kung-fu compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• kung fu vs. karate

Example Sentences

After one victory, he was congratulated by the Hong Kong martial-arts star Bruce Lee, who taught him kung fu techniques.

From The Wall Street Journal

It features chorus lines of robots performing feats of dexterity and coordination—kung fu, back flips, and, yes, swordplay—at speeds rivaling humans.

From Barron's

Tesla’s Optimus, which stands about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 125 pounds, has evolved from dancing in a suit, to serving drinks while controlled remotely, to learning kung fu.

From Barron's

“Many foreigners’ perceptions of China may still be stuck at kung fu, the Great Wall and pandas.

From The Wall Street Journal

Under his leadership, the temple started opening schools outside China and formed a travelling troupe of monks who performed Shaolin kung fu shows - the temple's signature style of martial arts.

From BBC

Related Words

• judo
• karate
• wrestling