内功

內功
nèigōng
noun #53,257

Meanings

  1. 1 internal strength (martial arts)
  2. 2 qigong focused on internal energy cultivation
  3. 3 deep underlying skill or capability

Examples

HSK 7-9
Liàn nèigōng yào cóng tiáoxī kāishǐ.
Training internal gongfu starts with regulating your breath.
HSK 7-9
Zhè jiā gōngsī nèigōng hěn shēn, yánfā shílì xiónghòu.
This company has deep underlying strength - its R&D capability is formidable.

Tips

culture
In martial arts theory, 内功 contrasts with 外功 (external, focused on muscle/bone/strength). Internal schools (内家拳) like 太极拳, 八卦掌, 形意拳 emphasize qi circulation; external schools (外家拳) like Shaolin emphasize physical power.
usage
Metaphorical use is very common in business writing: 一家公司的内功 = a company's underlying fundamentals (tech, talent, processes) vs. flashy marketing.

Stroke Order

nèi
gōng