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

In what ways has your experience with scoring kung fu films influence your classical composing style?

From Los Angeles Times

Harold Wilson had been elected prime minister, Brian Clough had been dismissed as the manager of Leeds United and Kung Fu Fighting was topping the charts.

From BBC

“Interior Chinatown” follows the story of Willis Wu, an actor who is stuck playing background characters on a police procedural called “Black & White” while dreaming of bigger things — like getting to play “Kung Fu Guy” instead of “Generic Asian Man.”

From Los Angeles Times

“It was six months of shooting. I was basically in every scene. I had to be funny on Tuesday, do kung fu on Wednesday and cry on Friday. It was very grueling,” Yang said.

From Los Angeles Times

Even the cheapest packages include channels like Kung Fu and Sino Drama, showcasing predominantly Chinese movies and series.

From BBC

Related Words

• judo
• karate
• wrestling