kung fu

[ kuhng foo, koong ]

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.

kung fu

/ ˈkʌŋ ˈfuː /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of kung fu¹

From the Chinese word gōngf ú literally, skill

Word History and Origins

Origin of kung fu¹

from Chinese: skill, accomplishment

Example Sentences

Entertainment comes from DJs, dance troupes, kung fu associations and hip-hop artists Year of the Ox.

From Washington Post

Then Abdul-Mateen’s character and Neo speak in a dojo, a recreation of another famous scene from the original film in which Reeves intoned, “I know kung fu” in the most Keanu Reeves way possible.

From Time

The versatile New York-based group, which features as many as 19 members, has only been around for two decades, but its music channels the great Fela Kuti — with a dash of kung fu teaching.

From Ozy

Admittedly, all this sounds pretty entertaining, rather like a kung fu or superhero film.

From Washington Post

The show is loaded with beautifully shot, carefully choreographed sequences of magical kung-fu.

From The Daily Beast

Kung fu is not the name of a martial-arts form; it means 'something with diligent applications.'

From The Daily Beast

Boxers tell the tale of Little Bao, a peasant boy who learns kung fu and joins the Boxer Rebellion.

From The Daily Beast

In the kung fu epic The Grandmaster, Cannes award-winning actor Tony Leung trained for four years.

From The Daily Beast

“You cannot learn the spiritual side of kung fu in just reading two books,” he says.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• judo
• karate
• wrestling