gung1 fu1工夫
Jyutpinggung1 fu1
Yalegūng fū
Definition
Work, labour, or the effort and time put into a task.
colloquialworkdaily actions
How it's used
Refers specifically to the time, energy, or meticulous attention required to complete a task rather than the job itself. It is frequently used in the context of craftsmanship or complex projects where the process is as significant as the result. You will often hear it paired with verbs like 花 or 使 to indicate the expenditure of effort.
Examples
It takes a lot of effort to build this model.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 工作, which refers to a person's employment or professional job. Using 工夫 to describe your career or office role will sound unnatural to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
