武术 wǔshù military skill or technique
military skill or technique (in former times); all kinds of martial art sports (some claiming spiritual development); self-defense; tradition of choreographed fights from opera and film (recent usage); also called kungfu 功夫
How to remember 武术: 武 military + 术 skill = military skill or technique.
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How it is used
- Chinese martial arts as a discipline/sport - 练武术 (liàn wǔshù) to practice martial arts.
- 武术 is the formal umbrella term; 功夫 (gōngfu) is the more colloquial/international word (kung fu).
- Refers to the trained skill/system; a single 'move' is 招 (zhāo), a 'style/school' is 门派.
- 太极 (tàijí) and 少林 are famous 武术 traditions.