How common it is
功夫 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say gōngfu slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
功夫可以表示武术，也可以表示花费的时间和努力。
gōng fū kě yǐ biǎo shì wǔ shù， yě kě yǐ biǎo shì huā fèi de shí jiān hé nǔ lì。
Kung fu can mean martial arts, and it can also mean time and effort spent.
Context note
功夫常出现在体育、电影和学习里。
gōng fū cháng chū xiàn zài tǐ yù 、 diàn yǐng hé xué xí lǐ。
Kung fu often appears in sports, movies, and study.
5 examples
他会功夫。
tā huì gōng fū。
He knows kung fu.
功夫很有名。
gōng fū hěn yǒu míng。
Kung fu is very famous.
学习要下功夫。
xué xí yào xià gōng fū。
Studying requires effort.
这部电影里有功夫。
zhè bù diàn yǐng lǐ yǒu gōng fū。
This movie has kung fu in it.
功夫不负有心人。
gōng fū bú fù yǒu xīn rén。
Effort pays off.
5 mini stories
老师说学中文也要下功夫。
lǎo shī shuō xué zhōng wén yě yào xià gōng fū。
The teacher said learning Chinese also requires effort.
哥哥喜欢看功夫电影。
gē ge xǐ huan kàn gōng fū diàn yǐng。
My older brother likes watching kung fu movies.
这位演员会一点功夫。
zhè wèi yǎn yuán huì yì diǎn gōng fū。
This actor knows a little kung fu.
做事情要有功夫，不能偷懒。
zuò shì qíng yào yǒu gōng fū， bù néng tōu lǎn。
Doing things requires effort; you cannot be lazy.
我第一次听到功夫这个词，是在电影里。
wǒ dì yī cì tīng dào gōng fū zhè ge cí， shì zài diàn yǐng lǐ。
The first time I heard the word kung fu was in a movie.