Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “kung fu” come from?

kung fu (English) comes from Chinese 功夫 — time; efforts; accomplishments, achievement.

kung fu (English): A Chinese martial art

Definitions

  1. A Chinese martial art

Ancestry of “kung fu”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Chinese功夫time; efforts; accomplishments, achievement

Words derived from “kung fu”

  • gun fu
Every word from Chinese 功夫 →