Martial Arts

1. 请问我可以跟你们一起打太极拳吗？

   Qǐngwèn wǒ kěyǐ gēn nǐmen yīqǐ dǎ tàijíquán ma?

   Excuse me, may I join you for tai chi?

   Usage

   The line to use when you approach a group doing tai chi in a park at dawn. At places like Tiantan Park in Beijing, Lu Xun Park in Shanghai or People's Park in Chengdu, older residents gather between roughly 06:30 and 08:00 and are generally happy to have a foreigner join in. These are informal neighbourhood gatherings rather than paid classes — just stand at the back and copy along

   Grammar Note

   "Gēn + person + yīqǐ + verb" means "do something together with someone". The verb that goes with tai chi is "dǎ", not "zuò", and it is often shortened to "dǎ tàijí" or "dǎ quán". Simply opening with "qǐngwèn" makes an approach to a stranger far more courteous

2. 我可以先在旁边看一下吗？

   Wǒ kěyǐ xiān zài pángbiān kàn yīxià ma?

   May I watch from the side first?

   Usage

   Works at a wǔguǎn (martial arts school) and with a park group alike. Chinese martial arts classes almost never turn away an observer, and speaking up often earns you an enthusiastic explanation. Stand at the back of the group or against the wall so you are not in the way, and always ask before taking photos

   Grammar Note

   Adding "yīxià" after a verb makes the action brief and softens a request or offer ("kàn yīxià", "shì yīxià", "děng yīxià"). The phrase "zài + place" goes before the verb to say where the action happens

3. 我是初学者，一点基础都没有

   Wǒ shì chūxuézhě, yīdiǎn jīchǔ dōu méiyǒu

   I am a beginner with no foundation at all

   Usage

   In the martial arts world "jīchǔ" refers to the foundation work — standing postures, leg stretching, basic drills — and it is the key word here. Say this and the teacher will start you on stance work rather than a form. Chinese instructors are gentle with beginners, but overstate your experience and you will be dropped into a difficult routine, so be honest

   Grammar Note

   "Yīdiǎn + noun + dōu/yě + méiyǒu" is an emphatic total negation, "not the slightest bit of X". It works with adjectives too, as in "yīdiǎn dōu bù lèi" (not tired in the least). Swapping "dōu" for "yě" changes nothing

4. 这里有武术班吗？可以体验一次吗？

   Zhèlǐ yǒu wǔshù bān ma? Kěyǐ tǐyàn yī cì ma?

   Do you run wushu classes here? Could I try one session?

   Usage

   "Wǔshù" is the general Chinese term for martial arts, split between traditional styles built on forms and the modern competitive version. In cities, wushu classes are often attached to gyms or cultural centres. Around the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, Henan, and on Wudang Mountain there are residential martial arts schools that take foreign students by the month

   Grammar Note

   Frequency goes after the verb as "number + cì" ("tǐyàn yī cì", "qùguo liǎng cì"). "Bān" is the noun for a class or course and takes a modifier for its content or audience: "tàijí bān", "wǔshù bān", "értóng bān" (children's class)

5. 单次体验多少钱？

   Dān cì tǐyàn duōshǎo qián?

   How much is a single trial session?

   Usage

   Park tai chi groups are free, but classes at a wǔguǎn or a gym charge. In cities a wushu class runs 50-150 yuan a session and a private coach 200-500. For repeat visits ask "yǒu yuè kǎ ma?" (monthly pass) or "yǒu cì kǎ ma?" (multi-session card) for a better rate. Payment is usually WeChat Pay or Alipay, and some places no longer take cash at all

   Grammar Note

   "Duōshǎo qián" is the everyday way to ask a price; because it already contains a question word the sentence needs no "ma" — adding one would be ungrammatical. "Dān" means single, as in "dānrén fáng" (single room) and "dānchéng" (one way)

6. 需要自己带练功服吗？

   Xūyào zìjǐ dài liàngōngfú ma?

   Do I need to bring my own training clothes?

   Usage

   Tai chi and wushu practice clothes are called "liàngōngfú" — loose cotton top and trousers worn with flat-soled cloth shoes. To join a park group a T-shirt and comfortable trousers are plenty. A proper wǔguǎn will usually tell you street clothes are fine for the first session; if you keep going, a set costs 100-300 yuan online or at a local sports shop

   Grammar Note

   "Xūyào + verb" states a requirement and negates as "bù xūyào". "Zìjǐ" placed after the subject adds the sense of doing it yourself ("wǒ zìjǐ qù" = I will go myself). "Liàngōng" is the verb for practising martial arts, and "liàngōngfú" the clothing for it

7. 你们几点开始？我明天早上再来

   Nǐmen jǐ diǎn kāishǐ? Wǒ míngtiān zǎoshang zài lái

   What time do you start? I will come back tomorrow morning

   Usage

   Park tai chi starts at sunrise, so around 05:30-06:00 in summer and closer to 07:00 in winter. The same faces gather in the same spot every morning, so once you have introduced yourself you will be welcomed back the next day. Many parks also have an evening session between about 18:00 and 20:00 if mornings are not your thing

   Grammar Note

   Time expressions come before the verb in Chinese, not at the end as in English — hence "míngtiān zǎoshang zài lái". "Zài" marks a repetition that has not happened yet, while a repetition that already occurred takes "yòu" ("yòu lái le" = here you are again)

8. 这套是陈式还是杨式太极？

   Zhè tào shì Chénshì háishì Yángshì tàijí?

   Is this form Chen style or Yang style tai chi?

   Usage

   Tai chi has five major family styles — Chen, Yang, Wu, Wǔ and Sun — and what you see in parks is most often the gentle, easy-to-learn Yang-style 24-form. Chen style includes explosive power release and jumps and is physically much harder. Asking this marks you as someone who knows a little, and the conversation usually opens right up

   Grammar Note

   "A háishì B" forms an alternative question and never takes "ma". The measure word for a martial arts form is "tào", as in "yī tào tàijíquán" (one tai chi form) or "zhè tào dòngzuò" (this sequence of movements)

9. 我腰不太好，可以少做下蹲的动作吗？

   Wǒ yāo bù tài hǎo, kěyǐ shǎo zuò xiàdūn de dòngzuò ma?

   My lower back is not great — could I do fewer of the low squatting movements?

   Usage

   Both tai chi and wushu hold low, bent-knee postures for long stretches, which loads the lower back and knees. A Chinese teacher will answer with "jiàzi gāo yīdiǎn" — take a higher stance — and adjust the posture height for you. Groups of older practitioners already work high, so joining them is easy on the body. Swap "yāo" for "xīgài" (knee) or "jiānbǎng" (shoulder)

   Grammar Note

   Putting "shǎo" or "duō" before a verb means to do less or more of it ("shǎo chī" eat less, "duō hē shuǐ" drink more water). "Bù tài + adjective" softens a negative statement and sounds far less blunt than a flat "bù hǎo"

10. 散打课要自己带拳套吗？

    Sǎndǎ kè yào zìjǐ dài quántào ma?

    Do I need to bring my own gloves for the sanda class?

    Usage

    "Sǎndǎ" is the competitive combat form of Chinese martial arts, allowing punches, kicks and throws. City gyms often run sanda and Muay Thai classes side by side. Gloves are usually lent for a first session, but a mouthguard and hand wraps are expected to be your own for hygiene. Gloves cost roughly 150-400 yuan to buy

    Grammar Note

    "Yào" covers three senses — need to, intend to, and want — distinguished by context; here it is necessity. The negation differs by sense: necessity negates as "bùyòng" (no need), intention as "bù xiǎng" (do not intend)

11. 能不能再教我一遍这个动作？

    Néng bù néng zài jiāo wǒ yī biàn zhège dòngzuò?

    Could you show me this movement one more time?

    Usage

    Even with limited language, this sentence plus a gesture gets the point across. Chinese martial arts teaching leans on imitation — "gēnzhe wǒ zuò", follow me — far more than on verbal explanation, so having it shown again is the most efficient thing you can ask for. If you want to film it, ask "wǒ kěyǐ lù yī duàn ma?" first

    Grammar Note

    "Néng bù néng" is the A-not-A question form and lands more gently than "néng ... ma". The measure word "biàn" counts complete run-throughs from beginning to end, as distinct from "cì" for occasions: "kàn le sān biàn" means watched it through three times

12. 师傅，您练了多少年了？

    Shīfu, nín liàn le duōshǎo nián le?

    Master, how many years have you been practising?

    Usage

    The respectful title for a martial arts teacher is "shīfu"; written with a different second character it means a formally acknowledged master-disciple relationship. As a visitor, plain "shīfu" is always safe. For older practitioners in a park you can also use "dàyé" (grandfather) or "āyí" (auntie). This question reads as a mark of respect and is very warmly received

    Grammar Note

    "Nín" is the respectful form of "nǐ", used for elders and first meetings. The "le" after the verb marks completion while the sentence-final "le" marks continuation up to now; using both in "liàn le ... nián le" says you have been practising for that long and still are

13. 跟着我做，别着急，慢慢来

    Gēnzhe wǒ zuò, bié zháojí, mànman lái

    Follow me — no rush, take it slowly

    Usage

    Said by the instructor. Chinese martial arts teaching is imitation-first: a beginner stands behind the teacher and traces the movements. "Mànman lái" is one of the most common encouragements in Chinese and you will hear it far beyond the training hall. Instructions drop the pronoun and come out short — this is not rudeness

    Grammar Note

    The particle "zhe" marks a continuing action, so "gēnzhe wǒ zuò" is "do it while following me". "Bié + verb" is the prohibitive imperative. Reduplicating the adjective in "mànman" softens the tone, and adding "lái" produces the set phrase "take your time"

14. 沉肩坠肘，重心放低一点

    Chén jiān zhuì zhǒu, zhòngxīn fàng dī yīdiǎn

    Drop your shoulders and elbows, and sink your weight a little lower

    Usage

    Said by the instructor. "Chén jiān zhuì zhǒu" is a traditional four-character maxim of tai chi describing the posture of letting the shoulders and elbows relax downward. Others in the same style are "hán xiōng bá bèi" (hollow the chest, lift the back) and "xū lǐng dǐng jìn" (suspend the crown of the head), and park teachers quote them verbatim

    Grammar Note

    Four-character maxims like "chén jiān zhuì zhǒu" pair two verb-object units in a classical structure common to martial arts and traditional medicine. "Fàng dī" is a verb-plus-result compound, where the second element states the outcome of the action

15. 出拳的时候收下巴，护住头

    Chū quán de shíhou shōu xiàba, hùzhù tóu

    Tuck your chin when you punch, and keep your head covered

    Usage

    Said by the instructor. This is the most frequent correction in sanda and boxing training: beginners lift the chin as they punch and let the other hand drop. Other cues you will hear are "zhuǎn yāo" (turn your hips), "shōu shǒu kuài yīdiǎn" (bring the hand back faster) and "bùyào yòng shǒubì fālì" (do not generate power with the arm alone)

    Grammar Note

    "... de shíhou" means "when", placed after the verb phrase. "Zhù" is a result complement meaning to hold something firmly in place, as in "jìzhù" (commit to memory) and "názhù" (grip tightly)

16. 今天就到这儿，明天早上还在这儿

    Jīntiān jiù dào zhèr, míngtiān zǎoshang hái zài zhèr

    That's it for today — we will be here again tomorrow morning

    Usage

    Said by the instructor to close the session, and simultaneously an invitation to come back. Chinese practice groups treat anyone they have met once as one of the group, and they will remember you the next morning. A good reply is "xièxie shīfu, xué dào hěn duō" (thank you, I learned a lot). No payment is expected at a park gathering

    Grammar Note

    "Jiù dào zhèr" is the set phrase for wrapping something up and is used to close meetings and lessons too. The "-r" ending is northern erhua; southern speakers say "zhèlǐ" instead of "zhèr". "Hái" marks continuation — we will still be here tomorrow

Browse all TravelPhrases languages