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拳法 (quán fǎ) — fist techniques; the methods and forms of fist fighting in Chinese martial arts

Definition

Refers to the fist-based techniques and forms of Chinese martial arts (武术), as distinct from weapon or leg-based styles. Often paired with 套路 (forms/routines) when discussing a complete set of moves.

noun
fist techniquesthe methods and forms of fist fighting in Chinese martial arts
Measure word · 套

Examples

  • 拳法，。
    Tā liàn le shí nián quán fǎ, gōng fu hěn shēn.
    He has practiced fist techniques for ten years and has deep martial arts skill.
  • 拳法。
    Zhè tào quán fǎ jiǎng jiu sù dù hé lì liàng.
    This set of fist techniques emphasizes speed and power.
  • 拳法。
    Lǎo shī fu jiào wǒ men gè zhǒng quán fǎ de zhāo shì.
    The old master teaches us various moves of fist techniques.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

拳quánfist
法fǎmethod

拳 refers to fist and 法 to method or technique; together they mean fist techniques.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
龹
龹龹拳quán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

拳 pairs 手 (hand) with 龹 for sound. The hand part shows that the meaning is a form of hand, such as a fist.

Open 拳 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
廌廌zhìa type of antelope or caprid
Sound part声符shēngfú
盍
盍hé法fǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

法's older form combined 氵 (water) and 廌 (a type of antelope or caprid), with 盍 as a sound part; later 廌 was dropped.

Open 法 →
Appears in
Sports & Athletics

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