A basic vocabulary for Tai Chi. This list is drawn from the ten sections on the Taijiese page, which offer more detail and additional vocabulary.

Numbers

一           Yī             One

二           Èr            Two

三           Sān         Three

四           sì             Four

五           Wǔ         Five

六           Liù          Six

七           Qī            Seven

八           Bā           Eight

九           Jiǔ           Nine

十           shí          Ten

Names of the Forms

式           Shì                          Form

太极拳    Tàijíquán              Empty-hand Tai Chi

太极剑    Tàijíjiàn                Tai Chi Sword

太极扇    Tàijíshàn              Tai Chi Fan

太极刀    Tàijídāo                Tai Chi Saber (or broadsword)

杨式太极             Yáng shì tàijí              Yang-style Tai Chi

陈式太极             Chén shì tàijí              Chen-style Tai Chi

吴式太极             Wú shì tàijí                  Wu-style Tai Chi

孙式太极             Sūn shì tàijí                 Sun-style Tai Chi

武/郝式太极         Wǔ/Hǎo shì tàijí          Wu/Hao Style Tai Chi

Body Parts

手 Shǒu      Hand

脚 Jiǎo        Foot (also means kick)

肘 Zhǒu      Elbow

膝 Xī            Knee

拳 Quán     Fist

头 Tóu        Head

尾 Wěi        Tail

背 Bèi          Back

腰 Yāo         waist

掌 Zhǎng    Palm

Steps and Stances

進步 jin bu (advancing step)

退步 tui bu (step back)

弓步 gong bu (bow stance)

虚步 xu bu (empty stance)

歇步 xie bu (resting stance)

仆步 pu bu (low stance)

扣步 kou bu (close step–turn the toe in)

叉步 cha bu (cross-step behind)

盖步 gai bu (step across in front)

并步 bing bu (feet together)

Kicks and Punches

脚     Quán     Fist

抱拳   Bào quán      Clench the fists

捶 Chuí              Beat, hammer

撇身捶       Piē shēn chuí               Fist across the body

栽锤 Zāi chuí  Punch down

搬     Bān        Deflect

拦     Lán        Block

分脚      Fēn jiǎo               Toe kick

蹬脚      Dēng jiǎo            Heel kick

摆莲         Bǎi lián                Crescent kick

Swordplay

剑法  Jiànfǎ Swordplay/sword techniques

刺    Cì*                         Stab

带    Dài*                      Carry

点    Diǎn*                    Point

挂    Guà                       Hang

拦    Lán                        Block

撩    Liāo                       Lift

抹    Mǒ                         Smear

劈    Pī*                          Chop

扫    Sǎo                         Sweep

Instructions

左 Zuǒ – Left

右 Yòu – Right

下 Xià – Down, downwards

上 Shàng – Up, upwards

平 Píng – Level

开 Kāi – Open

合 Hé – Together/close

后 Hòu – Behind/back

慢 Màn – Slow

快 Kuài – Fast, quick

When and Where

今天      Jīntiān                 Today

昨天      Zuótiān               Yesterday

明天      Míngtiān               Tomorrow

下个      Xià gè                  Next

上个      Shàng gè             Last

礼拜      Lǐbài        Week (days are libai plus 1,2,3, etc starting with Monday)

在                        Zài                       At

公园                    Gōngyuán              park

学校                    Xuéxiào               School

点          Diǎn                     O’clock

Pleasantries

谢谢     Xièxiè    Thank you

你好                    Nǐ hǎo                 General greeting

早上好                Zǎoshang hǎo              Good morning

你好么       Nǐ hǎo me?              How are you?

我的名字是                     Wǒ de míngzì shì My name is

你的名字是什么?          Nǐ de míngzì shì shénme?     What is your name?

再见   Zàijiàn   See you again

朋友   Péngyou             Friend

这个是你的么 Zhege shi ni de me? Is this yours?

回家   Huíjiā                                 Go home