Do you speak a little Chinese when you say 'kung fu'?

'Kung fu' is a word borrowed from Chinese 'gōngfu'. The word entered the English language some time around 1966.

kung fu [noun] [1966]

Any of various Chinese martial arts and related disciplines that are practiced especially for self-defense, exercise, a...

See 'kung fu' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Chinese.

Etymology: Chinese (Beijing) 'gōngfu' skill, art

See more loan words from 1960s.