武术

• Pinyin: wǔ shù
• Hanzi breakdown: 武 = 止 (stop) + 戈 (halberd), meaning martial; 术 = simplified form of 術, meaning art or technique

Meaning

Martial arts. Traditional Chinese combat arts encompassing a wide range of fighting styles and physical disciplines.

Refers broadly to Chinese martial arts traditions including kung fu, tai chi, and various competitive fighting styles. In modern China, 武术 is both a cultural heritage and a recognised sport. It is the standard term for martial arts of Chinese origin, distinct from foreign martial arts which are often specified by name.

Examples

1. 他从小就开始练习武术。 He started practising martial arts when he was young.
2. 中国武术在世界上非常有名。 Chinese martial arts are very famous around the world.
3. 学校每周有两节武术课。 The school has two martial arts classes every week.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, culture, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我对中国武术很感兴趣。(I'm very interested in Chinese martial arts.)
• 这个武术表演太精彩了。(This martial arts performance was spectacular.)

Don't Say

• 他的武术很高。(Don't say martial arts is 'high' — say 他的武术水平很高 to express 'his martial arts level is high'.)

Origin & History

武 originally meant 'martial' or 'military', combining 止 (stop) and 戈 (halberd). 术 means 'art' or 'technique'. Together they mean 'the art of combat'.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal