The Chinese language has hundreds of dialects. Some are so different they are like seperate launguages. Though they all read the same characters. Most westerners are exposed to Mandarin or Cantonese.
Kung Fu is Mandarin for Gung Fu. So Wing Chun Kung Fu is a mixture of two dialects. Wing Chun is Cantonese, so Wing Chun Gung Fu is correct in Cantonese. Yung Chun Kung Fu is correct in Mandarin.
We will use Kung Fu here because most people world wide are familiar with “Kung Fu”. Kung fu/gung fu means any acquired skill. A doctor, lawyer or a carpenter is doing kung fu. The proper term for the martial arts in Chinese is Wu Shu or Mo Sut.
Chi, or Qi is Mandarin for Hei in Cantonese. Chi will be used because of it’s familiarity.
| MANDARIN | CANTONESE | ENGLISH |
| Shaolin | Siu Lum | Small forest |
| Chi, Qi | Hei | Air, breath, intrinsic energy |
| Wu Mei | Ng Mui | Five Plums |
| Kung Fu | Gung Fu | Acquired skill |
| Wu Shu | Mo Sut | War Art, Martial Art |
| Yung Chun | Wing Chun | Speak of spring forever |
| Chuan | Kuen | Fist |
Cantonese translations
| Counting in Chinese | | Yat | One | | Yee | Two | | Saam | Three | | Sei | Four | | Ng | Five | | Luhk | Six | | Chaat | Seven | | Baat | Eight | | Gau | Nine | | Sahp | Ten |
| | Chinese Phrases | | Jeun Bai | Ready | | Jeun Geung | Attack | | Woo Wia | Defence | | Sifu | Teacher | | Sihing | Senior | | Sidi | Junior | | Haih | Yes | | Ng Goi | Sorry | | Do Jeh | Thank you | | Jo-on | Good morning | | Man-on | Good night | | Ng-on | Good afternoon |
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| Movement and Exercise | | Baat Jaam Do | Eight-chop broadswords (butterfly swords) | | Biu Jee | Finger thrusting form | | Bong Sao | Wing arm | | Chi Sao | Sticky hand exercise | | Muk Jong | Wooden dummy | | Chum Kiu | Bridge seeking form | | Fook Sao | Bridge-on arm | | Gan Sao | Plowing hand | | Kwan Sao | Tan and Bong deflection block | | Gum Sao | Pinning hand | | Jut Sao | Jerk hand | | Kan Sao | Splitting block | | Kuen | Fist | | Fat Sao | Swinging arm | | Pak Sao | Slapping block | | Siu Lim Tao | Little idea form | | Tan Sao | Palm-up arm | | Wu Sao | Protecting arm | | Dai Jeung | Reverse palm strike | | Po Pai Jeung | Double palm strike | | Jong | Elbow | | Ma | Stance | | Biu Sao | Stretching deflection block | | Lau Sao | Slipping hand | | Kwai Ma | Kneeling stance/horse | | Yee Jee Kim Yang Ma | Character two pinching stance/horse |
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