功夫

Chinese martial arts, skill, effort, time; a stretch of time

k ʊ ŋ ⁵ ⁵ f u ²
noun Common #5,135
Chinese martial arts 功夫 can refer to Chinese martial arts, not just skill or effort in general.
CH: 他从小学习功夫。
EN: He has studied Chinese martial arts since he was a child.

这位大哥功夫真不得了

This guy's kung fu is truly incredible.

— 黄飞鸿之一:壮志凌云 (1991)

什么都做不到以前只懂得练功夫

I couldn't do anything before; all I knew was how to practice kung fu.

— 叶问 (2008)

这才是中国功夫

Now that’s Chinese kung fu.

— I Am What I Am 2 (2024)

就当是让中国人见识一下我们日本功夫

Think of it as giving the Chinese a taste of our Japanese martial arts.

— 叶问 (2008)

功夫踢球好主意

Kung fu soccer is a great idea.

— 少林足球 (2001)

阿苏我没教你功夫

Asu, I never taught you kung fu.

— 黄飞鸿之一:壮志凌云 (1991)

只是喝茶、吃饭、打功夫

Just drinking tea, eating, and practicing kung fu.

— 叶问 (2008)

师父正教我功夫呢

My master is teaching me martial arts right now.

— 黄飞鸿之一:壮志凌云 (1991)

你的功夫这么厉害连黄飞鸿都不够你打的

Your martial arts are so formidable that even Wong Fei-hung would be no match for you.

— 黄飞鸿之一:壮志凌云 (1991)

功夫不只是打架

Kung fu isn't just about fighting.

— 瞬息全宇宙 (2022)

你还会功夫啊你

I didn’t know you knew kung fu!

— Lost in Thailand (2012)

功夫踢球有搞头吗?

Is there any future in kung fu soccer?

— 少林足球 (2001)

学什么功夫?

What martial art are you learning?

— 少林足球 (2001)

瘸子也可以练功夫的

Even someone with a limp can practice kung fu.

— 少林足球 (2001)

既然这样,你们把功夫传给我…让我成为绝世高手为他们报仇!

In that case, pass your skills on to me… so I can become a peerless master and avenge them!

— 功夫 (2004)

功夫不只是打架饼干也可以是功夫

Kung fu isn’t just about fighting—even cookies can be kung fu.

— 瞬息全宇宙 (2022)

你不是会功夫么

Can’t you do kung fu?

— Lost in Thailand (2012)

我给我的外国朋友看这段视频他说这算什么中国功夫

I showed this video to my foreign friend, and he said, “What kind of Chinese kung fu is this?”

— I Am What I Am 2 (2024)

我没有刚刚都是假的敢不敢和我来场真的教教他什么是真正的功夫

I was just pretending earlier. Do you dare take me on for real and teach him what real kung fu is?

— I Am What I Am 2 (2024)

会功夫不是罪呀!

Knowing kung fu isn't a crime!

— 功夫 (2004)

真打真练真功夫

Real fighting, real training, real skills.

— I Am What I Am 2 (2024)

不是呀,少林功夫加唱歌跳舞

No, it’s Shaolin kung fu combined with singing and dancing.

— 少林足球 (2001)

小姐,有没有兴趣学功夫?

Miss, would you be interested in learning kung fu?

— 少林足球 (2001)

是啊,这里的老板以前也学过功夫所以,他很喜欢请懂功夫的人来干活

Yeah, the owner here used to study martial arts too, so he really likes hiring people who know martial arts.

— 叶问 (2008)

但我并不认为中国功夫比日本武术强

But I don't think Chinese kung fu is superior to Japanese martial arts.

— 叶问 (2008)

少林功夫加唱歌跳舞

Shaolin kung fu combined with singing and dancing.

— 少林足球 (2001)

功夫真的可以用来踢球吗?

Can kung fu really be used to play soccer?

— 少林足球 (2001)

我教功夫很贵的

My kung fu lessons are very expensive.

— 叶问 (2008)

noun Uncommon #12,754
skill A person’s ability or expertise at doing something.
CH: 你的功夫这么好,大家都很佩服你。
EN: You’re so skilled that everyone admires you.

老爷子还是功夫深

The old man is still a master of kung fu.

— 一代宗师 (2013)

我的功夫还可以吧?

My kung fu is pretty good, right?

— 叶问 (2008)

你的功夫这么好

You're so good at kung fu.

— 黄飞鸿之一:壮志凌云 (1991)

功夫不只是打架饼干也可以是功夫

Kung fu isn’t just about fighting—even cookies can be kung fu.

— 瞬息全宇宙 (2022)

不爬高怎么知道你功夫怎么样?

How can I tell what you're capable of if you won't climb up there?

— 黄飞鸿之一:壮志凌云 (1991)

你撒谎的功夫不怎样

You're not very good at lying.

— 伊万的童年 (1962)

功夫好?

Are you good at kung fu?

— 黄飞鸿之一:壮志凌云 (1991)

你那么好功夫,就教教我们吧

Since you're so skilled, teach us a thing or two.

— 叶问 (2008)

你心里明白你的功夫就只能练到这里了

Deep down, you know this is as far as your martial arts skills can take you.

— 卧虎藏龙 (2000)

这个梁宽整天说自己的功夫好非要爬到那么高去补棚顶

This Liang Kuan is always bragging about how good his kung fu is, and insists on climbing that high to patch the shed roof.

— 黄飞鸿之一:壮志凌云 (1991)

好功夫

Impressive kung fu skills.

— 一代宗师 (2013)

noun Rare #20,764
effort The work or effort put into doing something.
CH: 我花了很多功夫才把它找回来。
EN: I put a lot of effort into finding it again.

要改表面功夫就是这些了

If we're only changing the superficial stuff, that's all.

— 喜剧之王 (1999)

这是思想的功夫,要认真

This is about training your mind, so take it seriously.

— 美丽人生 (1997)

还有我花了些功夫把它找回来了

I also put in some effort to get it back.

— 触不可及 (2011)

那就得在脸上下功夫

Then you'll have to work on your face.

— 办公室的故事 (1977)

你可要多做很多功夫

You'll have to put in a lot more effort.

— 重庆森林 (1994)

noun Rare #23,558
time; a stretch of time Used for time available or a period of time; here it does not mean martial arts.
CH: 我现在没那个闲功夫。
EN: I don’t have that kind of free time right now.

我现在没那个闲功夫

I don't have the time for that right now.

— 红猪 (1992)

不要紧,才一会儿功夫

No worries, it’ll only take a moment.

— 花样年华 (2000)