工夫

• 拼音: gōng fu
• 汉字拆解: 工 = pictograph of a tool; 夫 = 大 (big) + 一 (one) — a grown man, implying labour

含义

Time; effort; skill acquired through practice. Refers to the time spent on something or the skill developed through it.

Has two main uses: (1) time or duration, often in the phrase 有工夫 (have time) or 花工夫 (spend time/effort); (2) skill or mastery gained through practice. Note that 工夫 and 功夫 overlap in meaning but 功夫 more commonly refers to martial arts skill, while 工夫 emphasises time and effort.

例句

1. 只要你花工夫练习，一定能学会。
2. 他在书法上下了很多工夫。
3. 我现在没有工夫跟你聊天。

用法指南

语境: everyday, study, effort

语气: encouraging

正确说法

• 学好中文需要花很多工夫。(Learning Chinese well requires a lot of time and effort.)
• 你有工夫的话，帮我看看这个。(If you have time, help me take a look at this.)

错误说法

• 他的工夫很高，能打败所有人。(When referring to martial arts skill, use 功夫 instead of 工夫. Say 他的功夫很高.)

起源与历史

Compound of 工 (work/labour) and 夫 (man/husband). Originally referred to a labourer's effort, later extended to mean the time and skill invested in any endeavour.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal