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功夫
Gōng Fu
Literal: Skill Through Effort
Daily LifeMeaning
Not just martial arts — gongfu means any skill achieved through dedicated effort and time. A chef has gongfu, a calligrapher has gongfu, a tea master has gongfu. It is mastery earned through patient practice.
Usage Example
“Her tea-brewing gongfu is remarkable — years of daily practice.”