Learn the Chinese terms used in Wushu (Chinese martial arts).
If you want to learn Wushu techniques, go to the Wushu main section and select a technique. Follow the animated instructions and watch our Wushu videos.
General Terminology
- Wushu (武术) – Martial arts
- Kou Shu (口术) – Old term for Wushu
- Gong Fu (功夫) – Kung fu; skill through effort
- Ji Shu (技术) – Technique
- Qi Ben Gong (基本功) – Basics
- Lian (练) – Train
- Lian Wu (练武) – Train Wushu / Practice Wushu
- Lian Gong (练功) – Train skill
- Pao Bu (跑步) – Run
- Pao Qi Lai (跑起来) – Start running
- Huo Dong (活动) – Warm-up / Activity
- Huo Dong Kai Le Ma? (活动开了吗？) – Did you warm up?
Stretching and Flexibility
- Ya (压) – Stretch
- Ya Tui (压腿) – Leg stretching
- Xia Cha (下叉) – Splits
- Xia Da Cha (下大叉) – Side splits
Stances (Bu Fa - 步法)
- Ma Bu (马步) – Horse stance
- Gong Bu (弓步) – Bow stance
- Pu Bu (仆步) – Drop (flat) stance
- Xu Bu (虚步) – Cat stance
- Xie Bu (歇步) – Rest stance
- Ding Bu (丁步) – T-stance
- Shang Bu (上步) – Step forward
Striking Techniques
- Quan (拳) – Fist
- Quan Fa (拳法) – Fist technique
- Zhang (掌) – Palm
- Gou (勾) – Hook (hand crane position)
Kicking Techniques (Tui Fa - 腿法)
- Ti (踢) – Kick
- Ti Tui (踢腿) – Kick the leg
- Zheng Ti (正踢) – Straight kick
- Ce Ti (侧踢) – Side kick
- Lihe (里合腿) – Inside crescent kick
- Wai Bai (外摆腿) – Outside crescent kick
- Dan Pai Jiao (单拍脚) – Slap kick
- Dan Ti Chong Quan (单踢冲拳) – Single leg kick with fist punch
- Dan Ti Chong Zhang (单踢冲掌) – Single leg kick with palm punch
- Ce Shuai Tui (侧摔腿) – Side kick / sweep
- Bian Tui (鞭腿) – Roundhouse kick
- Qian Sao (前扫) – Front sweep
- Hou Sao (后扫) – Back sweep
Jump Techniques
- Teng Kong (腾空) – Jump / Aerial
- Da Teng Kong (大腾空) – Big jump
- Teng Kong Fei Jiao (腾空飞脚) – Flying front kick
- Xuan Feng Jiao (旋风脚) – Tornado kick
- Teng Kong Bai Lian (腾空摆莲) – Lotus kick
- Ce Kong Fan (侧空翻) – Aerial cartwheel
- Ce Kong Fan Zhuan Ti 360° (侧空翻转体360度) – Aerial cartwheel with 360° twist
- Xuan Zi (旋子) – Butterfly kick
- Xuan Zi Zhuan Ti 360° (旋子转体360度) – Butterfly twist 360
- Xuan Zi Zhuan Ti 720° (旋子转体720度) – Butterfly twist 720
- San Bai Liu (三百六) – “Three-six” – slang for Butterfly Twist
- Qian Zi (前子) – Round-off
- Xiao Fan (小翻) – Small back handspring
- Gao Ti (高踢) – High kick
Wushu Competition Terminology
- Bi Sai (比赛) – Competition
- Cai Pan (裁判) – Referee
- Kai Shi (开始) – Begin / Start
- Fen (分) – Points
- Dian (点) – Decimal / dot
- Ba Dian Ba Fen (8.8 分) – 8.8 points
- Ying Le (赢了) – Won
- Dui Le (对了) – Correct
- Di Yi Ming (第一名) – First place
- Di Er Ming (第二名) – Second place
- Di San Ming (第三名) – Third place
- Dao Shu Di Yi Ming (倒数第一名) – Last place
Uniform & Body Parts Terminology
- Cai Fu (裁服) – Uniform
- Tou (头) – Head
- Tou Fa (头发) – Hair
- Lian (脸) – Face
- Yan Jing (眼睛) – Eyes
- Bi Zi (鼻子) – Nose
- Kou (口) – Mouth
- Jian (肩) – Shoulders
- Ge Bu (胳膊) – Arms
- Shang Bi (上臂) – Upper arm
- Xia Bi (下臂) – Forearm
- Shou (手) – Hand
- Xiong Bu (胸部) – Chest
- Fu Ji (腹肌) – Abs
- Bei (背) – Back
- Kua (胯) – Hips
- Tui (腿) – Leg
- Da Tui (大腿) – Thigh
- Xi Gai (膝盖) – Knee
- Xiao Tui (小腿) – Calf
- Jiao (脚) – Foot
- Xie Zi (鞋子) – Shoes
More Wushu Terminology
- Tao Lu (套路) – Forms
- San Da (散打) – Chinese kickboxing
- San Shou (散手) – Free hand sparring
- Shuai Jiao (摔跤) – Chinese wrestling
- Hui Bu Hui? (会不会?) – Can you do it?
- Hui (会) – Can
- Bu Hui (不会) – Cannot
- Lei Bu Lei? (累不累?) – Are you tired?
- Lei (累) – Tired
- Lei Si Le (累死了) – Exhausted
- Bu Lei (不累) – Not tired
- Wo Tiao Bu Qi Lai! (我跳不起来！) – I can’t jump up
Numbers
- 1: Yi (一)
- 2: Er (二)
- 3: San (三)
- 4: Si (四)
- 5: Wu (五)
- 6: Liu (六)
- 7: Qi (七)
- 8: Ba (八)
- 9: Jiu (九)
- 10: Shi (十)
- 11–19: Shi Yi, Shi Er, etc.
- 20–90: Er Shi, San Shi, Si Shi, etc.
- 100: Yi Bai
- 200: Er Bai
- 300: San Bai
- 1000: Yi Qian
- 5555: Wu Qian Wu Bai Wu Shi Wu
- 10,000: Yi Wan
- 100,000: Shi Wan
- 1,000,000: Bai Wan
- 5,550,000: Wu Bai Wu Shi Wu Wan
- 10,000,000: Yi Qian Wan
- 100,000,000: Yi Yi
Other Useful Phrases
- Hao (好) – Good
- Ni Hao (你好) – Hello
- Ni Hao Ma (你好吗) – How are you?
- Wo Hen Hao (我很好) – I’m fine
- Ni Ne (你呢) – And you?
- Xie Xie (谢谢) – Thank you
- Ni Shi Na Guo Ren? (你是哪国人?) – What country are you from?
- Ni Zhu Zai Na Li? (你住在哪里?) – Where do you live?
- Ting Bu Dong (听不懂) – I don’t understand (hearing)
- Bu Ming Bai (不明白) – I don’t understand (meaning)
- Ming Bai (明白) – I understand
- Ni Shuo Man Yi Dian Ba (你说慢一点吧) – Please speak slower
- Man Yi Dian (慢一点) – Slower
- Kuai Yi Dian (快一点) – Faster
- Chi Fan (吃饭) – Eat
- Hao Chi Ma? (好吃吗?) – Is it delicious?
- Hao Chi (好吃) – Tastes good
- Ni He Ba (你喝吧) – Go ahead and drink something
Suggestions for More Martial Arts Terminology Sections
- Muay Thai Terminology
- Judo Terminology
- Tae Kwon Do Terminology
- Karate Terminology
- Shuai Jiao Terminology
Video - Imagenes
Check out our Wushu Video Section for technique demonstrations and guided animations.
