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功夫 (gōng fu) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 4

功夫 (gōng fu) is a Chinese word: kung fu; skill; effort. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 功夫

名 míng noun

kung fu; skill; effort

学好中文需要下功夫。

xué hǎo zhōng wén xū yào xià gōng fu

Learning Chinese well requires effort.

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Word breakdown

功 gōng — achievement; skill; work

Words with this character (16)
Show more (+11)

夫 fū / fu — suffix completing the word; relates to time/labor spent

Contextual pronunciation: fu

Words with this character (7)
Show more (+2)
  • 6 夫人 fū rén — madam HSK 6
    • 夫 husband, man (forming a respectful term)
    • 人 person (completing the respectful term for wife/lady)
    Example

    李先生和他的夫人一起来了。

    Lǐ xiān sheng hé tā de fū rén yì qǐ lái le

    Mr. Li came with his wife.

  • 7 工夫 gōng fu — time; spare time; skill; effort HSK 6
    • 工 work; labor (contributes the sense of effort or activity)
    • 夫 suffix (combines with 工 to form the word meaning time or skill)
    Example

    我今天没有工夫去购物。

    wǒ jīn tiān méi yǒu gōng fu qù gòu wù

    I don't have time to go shopping today.

Structure & writing
1 功 gōng — merit; achievement (opposite of 过)

功 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1.1 工 gōng — worker; working class
工 is a component in 19 characters
HSK 2
红 hóng red (color like fresh blood)
HSK 3
差 chā mistake; error 空 kōng empty; hollow; impractical 轻 qīng light in weight; low in density (opposite of '重')
HSK 4
功 gōng merit; achievement (opposite of 过) 巧 qiǎo clever and skillful; ingenious 式 shì shape or form of an object 江 jiāng a large river 项 xiàng (lit.) back of the neck/nape
HSK 5
贡 gòng to offer tribute to the imperial court
HSK 6
巩 gǒng firm, solid 径 jìng narrow path; footpath 攻 gōng to attack, assault; opposite of 'defend' 虹 hóng rainbow (colorful arc in the sky after rain, with seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet)
HSK 7
扛 káng to carry on one's shoulder (without tools) 杠 gàng thick rod or pole 毁 huǐ to destroy; to ruin 缸 gāng large container (jar, vat, or crock) with a narrow base and wide mouth, made of pottery, porcelain, enamel, or glass 诬 wū to falsely accuse; to slander with fabricated facts
1.2 力 lì — force (physical interaction between objects causing acceleration or deformation)
力 is a component in 32 characters
HSK 1
男 nán male (opposite of "female") 边 biān border between countries or regions
HSK 2
为 wéi to do; to act 动 dòng to move; to change position or leave a state of rest (opposite of '静')
HSK 3
办 bàn to handle; to deal with 加 jiā to add together; to combine two or more things or numbers 务 wù affair; matter 助 zhù to help, to assist 努 nǔ to exert (strength) to the utmost
Show more HSK 3 characters (+1)
历 lì to experience; to go through
HSK 4
功 gōng merit; achievement (opposite of 过) 励 lì to encourage; to strive 勇 yǒng brave and bold, unafraid of danger or difficulty 另 lìng other; another
HSK 5
劝 quàn to persuade; to convince someone by presenting facts and reasoning 劳 láo to labor; human activity of creating material or spiritual wealth 势 shì apparent form or condition: ① natural phenomenon or situation in nature; ② posture or gesture of movement; ③ situation or circumstances in political, military, or social affairs 勤 qín diligent; hardworking (opposite of lazy) 幼 yòu young; immature (opposite of 老)
Show more HSK 5 characters (+1)
穷 qióng poor, impoverished (opposite of 富)
HSK 6
劣 liè inferior, bad (opposite of 优) 勉 miǎn to strive; to exert oneself 抛 pāo to throw; to toss
HSK 7
劫 jié to rob; to plunder 勃 bó (lit.) thriving; vigorous 勋 xūn distinguished merit; special achievement 勒 lēi bind or loop with a rope and pull tight 勘 kān to proofread and verify; to collate
Show more HSK 7 characters (+4)
募 mù to recruit or solicit broadly (funds, troops, etc.) 夯 hāng a rammer or tamper used to compact foundations (wooden, stone, or iron) 筋 jīn tendon or ligament connecting muscle to bone 虏 lǔ to capture (in battle)

Stroke order

2 夫 fū / fu — general term for an adult man
夫 is a component in 7 characters
HSK 4
失 shī to lose; to be deprived of (opposite of 得) 肤 fū skin, the outer surface of the human body 规 guī compass (for drawing circles)
HSK 5
扶 fú to support with one's hand to prevent falling, or to help something fallen stand up again 替 tì to replace; to substitute
HSK 6
夹 jiā to clamp; to press from both sides to hold something in place
HSK 7
撵 niǎn to expel, drive away

consists of

2.1 一 yī — the smallest positive integer; one (①used before a measure word ②used before a noun ③indicates a single action or a brief/tentative action)
一 is a component in 58 characters
HSK 1
下 xià lower position (opposite of 上): ① positioned below (opposite of 上); ② later in order or time; ③ within a certain range, condition, or circumstance 两 liǎng two (used before measure words and 半, 千, 万, 亿) 事 shì matter; affair; everything that happens in nature and society 候 hòu to wait; to await 元 yuán the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), founded by Kublai Khan
Show more HSK 1 characters (+10)
兴 xīng to be popular; to be in vogue 再 zài twice; a second time 前 qián front; the direction one faces (opposite of 后) 天 tiān sky 子 zǐ child (son or daughter in ancient usage); now specifically son 师 shī teacher; instructor (one who imparts knowledge or skills) 本 běn root or stem of a plant 正 zhèng straight; upright (opposite of crooked or tilted) 百 bǎi hundred (the number 100) 贵 guì expensive; of high value (opposite of 贱)
HSK 2
夫 fū general term for an adult man 画 huà to draw or paint (with a brush or similar tool)
HSK 3
其 qí pronoun: ① he, they ② his, their ③ that, those 合 hé to close; to shut; to bring together (opposite of 开) 夏 xià summer (the second of the four seasons) 带 dài ribbon, strip, or belt-shaped object 应 yìng to reply; to answer
Show more HSK 3 characters (+7)
或 huò perhaps; maybe 更 gēng to change; to replace; to substitute 末 mò tip or end of an object 求 qiú to beg, to implore 演 yǎn to evolve; to change gradually 直 zhí straight; not curved (opposite of 曲) 行 xíng to walk; to go
HSK 4
亚 yà inferior (mostly used in negative constructions) 亲 qīn related by blood or marriage; esp. parents 具 jù tool; utensil; implement 咸 xián (lit.) all; everyone (classical adverb) 断 duàn to break into two or more pieces (of something long)
HSK 5
善 shàn kind; benevolent; charitable (opposite of 恶) 威 wēi authority or power that commands awe and respect 旦 dàn dawn; early morning 未 wèi not yet (opposite of 已) 武 wǔ military; martial (opposite of civil/literary "文")
HSK 6
兼 jiān doubled; combining two portions into one 德 dé morality; ethical standards and norms of conduct 拜 bài to bow or salute as a show of respect 灭 miè go out; stop burning or shining (opposite of 着) 衰 shuāi to decline, to weaken
HSK 7
丘 qiū small hill; mound 丙 bǐng third of the ten Heavenly Stems; used to indicate third in order 丛 cóng to cluster together, to gather in a mass 兹 zī (lit., class.) demonstrative pronoun: this; this one 兽 shòu beast; mammal (generally referring to four-legged, fur-covered mammals)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+9)
拯 zhěng to rescue, to save 朱 zhū vermilion, bright red 胚 pēi embryo; organism in early development, formed from fertilized or unfertilized egg 蒙 méng ignorant, lacking knowledge 贮 zhù to store; to stockpile 逆 nì to go in the opposite direction (opposite of 顺) 遣 qiǎn to dispatch; to send 陋 lòu ugly; unsightly 隆 lóng grand; magnificent
2.2 大 dà — large; great (in volume, area, quantity, force, intensity, etc.; opposite of 小)
Xpinyin
大 is a component in 34 characters
HSK 1
天 tiān sky 太 tài high; great
HSK 2
因 yīn cause; reason (opposite of 果) 夫 fū general term for an adult man 头 tóu head (of a person or animal)
HSK 3
参 cān to join; to participate (in an activity) 奇 qí rare; special; extraordinary
HSK 4
奋 fèn to rouse oneself; to strive vigorously 奖 jiǎng to reward; to praise 套 tào cover; sheath; case (placed over something) 庆 qìng to congratulate; to celebrate 美 měi beautiful; good-looking (opposite of "丑")
Show more HSK 4 characters (+1)
达 dá to go through; to reach
HSK 5
奈 nài how; in what way; what to do about 类 lèi kind; category; a group of similar things 衡 héng steelyard beam; weighing instrument such as a scale or balance
HSK 6
央 yāng to entreat; to beg 夸 kuā to boast; to exaggerate 夺 duó to seize by force; to snatch 奔 bēn to run; to rush 尖 jiān tip or pointed end of an object
Show more HSK 6 characters (+1)
牵 qiān to lead or pull along
HSK 7
夯 hāng a rammer or tamper used to compact foundations (wooden, stone, or iron) 夷 yí flat; peaceful 契 qì (lit.) to carve with a knife 奚 xī slave (in ancient times) 奠 diàn to offer sacrifices to the deceased as a tribute
Show more HSK 7 characters (+7)
奢 shē extravagant; lavish (opposite of 俭) 奥 ào southwest corner of a house in ancient times; inner recess of a room 攀 pān to climb by gripping something 爽 shuǎng bright and clear 犬 quǎn dog 莫 mò (lit.) no one; nothing 驮 tuó to carry on the back (of an animal)

Stroke order