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武林 (wǔ lín) — the martial arts world; the community of martial artists (in Chinese culture and fiction)

Definition

Refers to the community of martial artists and their world, a concept central to wuxia fiction (武侠小说) and kung fu film culture. Not used for real-life sports like MMA or boxing.

noun
the martial arts worldthe community of martial artists (in Chinese culture and fiction)

Examples

  • 武林。
    Zhè bù xiǎo shuō miáo xiě le yí gè xū gòu de wǔ lín shì jiè.
    This novel depicts a fictional martial arts world.
  • 武林，。
    Tā zài wǔ lín zhōng dǎ pīn le jǐ shí nián, zhōng yú chéng wéi yí dài zōng shī.
    He struggled in the martial arts world for decades and finally became a generation's grandmaster.
  • 武林，。
    wǔ lín Zhōng rén zuì zhòng yì qì, yì yán bù hé biàn bá dāo xiāng xiàng.
    People in the martial arts world value loyalty above all; a single disagreement can lead them to draw their swords.

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.

武wǔmartial arts
林línforest

武 “martial arts” specifies the 林 “forest” as the community of practitioners.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

武 puts 戈 (dagger-axe) above 止 (foot/to walk), showing an army going on an expedition.

Open 武 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

林 is made of two 木 (tree) placed side by side, showing many trees together, hence a forest.

Open 林 →
Appears in
Chinese Culture & Customs

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