Chinese–EnglishWith examples

工夫

gōng fū · gong fu/gōng fu · gong fu

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 3Old HSK 6

Meaning

CC-CEDICT

gōng fū 工夫

  1. (old) laborer

gōng fu 工夫

  1. period of time (may be months, or mere seconds)
  2. spare time
  3. skill
  4. labor
  5. effort
Embed this word

Put this word on your class page or blog. Keep the link under the frame, so people can find the word. More widgets

In a conversation

0:18 cartoon

Making dumplings

  1. Dengdeng

    琦琦(qíqí)，晚上(wǎnshang)一起(yīqǐ)玩(wán)游戏(yóuxì)吧(ba)！

    Qiqi, let us play a game tonight!

  2. Qiqi

    没(méi)工夫(gōngfu)，我(wǒ)要(yào)做饭(zuòfàn)。

    I have no time. I have to cook.

  3. Liangliang

    做饭(zuòfàn)用不了(yòngbuliǎo)多少(duōshao)工夫(gōngfu)吧(ba)？

    Cooking does not take much time, does it?

  4. Qiqi

    我(wǒ)做(zuò)的(de)是(shì)饺子(jiǎozi)，要(yào)包(bāo)一百个(yībǎigè)，得(děi)花(huā)不少(bùshǎo)工夫(gōngfu)。

    I am making dumplings. A hundred of them takes quite some time.

  5. Dengdeng

    我们(wǒmen)来(lái)帮(bāng)你(nǐ)！

    We will help you!

  6. Qiqi

    好(hǎo)，有(yǒu)工夫(gōngfu)的(de)人(rén)，先(xiān)洗手(xǐshǒu)！

    Good. Whoever has time, wash your hands first!

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

没(méi)工(gōng)夫(fu)休(xiū)息(xi)的(de)人(rén)，早(zǎo)晚(wǎn)会(huì)有(yǒu)工(gōng)夫(fu)生(shēng)病(bìng)的(de)。

People who cannot find time for recreation are obliged sooner or later to find time for illness.

Tatoeba: Chinese by jiangche · English by Orava · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

她(tā)昨(zuó)晚(wǎn)已(yǐ)经(jīng)收(shōu)拾(shi)好(hǎo)行(xíng)李(li)，所(suǒ)以(yǐ)今(jīn)天(tiān)早(zǎo)上(shang)没(méi)费(fèi)多(duō)少(shǎo)工(gōng)夫(fu)就(jiù)准(zhǔn)备(bèi)好(hǎo)出(chū)门(mén)。

She was able to be ready early this morning, because she finished packing last night.

Tatoeba: Chinese by nickyeow · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Stroke order & practice

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
工
gōng

work; worker

夫
fū

husband; man

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

More words starting with GExplore words in context