空手道
kōngshǒudào
The English phrase 'karate' is translated into Chinese as 空手道 (kōngshǒudào). If unsure, use 空手道. Wiktionary also lists 空手 (kōngshǒu).
Meaning: martial art (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 空手道 | kōngshǒudào |
| 空手 | kōngshǒu |
The term refers to the martial art known as karate.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 空手道 is composed of the characters 空 (empty), 手 (hand) and 道 (way or path), literally meaning 'empty hand way'.
How do you pronounce it?
kōngshǒudào
Did you know?
- Although the word 空手道 is written with Chinese characters, it is a direct borrowing from the Japanese word 'karatedō'.
- In Chinese, the term 空手 can also be used colloquially to mean arriving at a place 'empty handed' without a gift or tool.
- The character 道 (dào) in 空手道 is a shared concept between Chinese and Japanese cultures, representing a 'way' or a spiritual path. In Chinese, this character is also the fundamental concept behind 'Taoism'.
Examples in context
- 汤姆已经开始学习空手道了。Tom has started studying karate.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 空手 in the context of studying karate.Tatoeba #8574638 by slo_oth, translation #8574336 by CK
- 我学过一点空手道。I have learned a bit of karate.
- 他从小就开始练习空手道。Tā cóng xiǎo jiù kāishǐ liànxí kōngshǒudào.He has been practicing karate since he was young.
- 空手道是一项很有名的武术。Kōngshǒudào shì yī xiàng hěn yǒumíng de wǔshù.Karate is a very famous martial art.
Example conversation
At a sports club, discussing extracurricular activities.
- 志强 Zhiqiang雨婷，你喜欢空手道吗？Yǔtíng, nǐ xǐhuān kōngshǒudào ma?Yuting, do you like karate?
- 雨婷 Yuting我不喜欢，我觉得太累了。Wǒ bù xǐhuān, wǒ juéde tài lèi le.I don't like it, I think it's too tiring.
- 志强 Zhiqiang可是空手道很有趣啊。Kěshì kōngshǒudào hěn yǒuqù a.But karate is very interesting.
- 雨婷 Yuting志强，那你觉得呢？Zhìqiáng, nà nǐ juéde ne?Zhiqiang, what do you think?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “karate” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 空手道, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
