nunchaku

nun·cha·ku
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UK/nʌnˈtʃækuː/UK/nʌnˈtʃɑːkuː/US/nʌnˈt͡ʃɑku/US/nən-/

noun

A weapon originating from Okinawa, Japan, consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord.

Similar
chainsticks
OriginOkinawan 双節棍 ← Hokkien 兩節棍 /两节棍 →
UncommonFirst used 20th c.Scrabble 17
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Meanings

nounnunchaku (countable and uncountable, plural nunchakus)

plural nunchakus · alternative numchuck · alternative num-chuk · alternative nunchuck · alternative nunchuk

  1. countableengineeringA weapon originating from Okinawa, Japan, consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord.First known use 20th c.

    Synonyms: chainsticks

  2. uncountableengineeringThe skill of using this weapon in martial arts.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA weapon originating from Okinawa, Japan, consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord.

Similar
chainsticks
Broader
weapon
Also see
chainsticksnumchucknum-chuk

Origin

  1. Hokkien兩節棍 /两节棍
  2. Okinawan双節棍
  3. Englishnunchaku

Borrowed from Okinawan 双節棍 (nunchaku) (compare Japanese 双節棍 (nunchaku)), probably from Hokkien 兩節棍 /两节棍 (nn̄g-chat-kùn, literally “two-segment cudgel”), from 兩 /两 (nn̄g, “two”) + 節 /节 (chat, “joint; link; segment”) + 棍 (kùn, “cudgel; stick”).

More words from Okinawan, Hokkien

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian нунчаку, нунджако
  • нунчаку (nunčaku)weapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
  • нунджако (nundžako)weapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Chinese Mandarin 雙節棍 /双节棍
  • 雙節棍 /双节棍 (shuāngjiégùn)weapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Czech nunčaky
  • nunčakyweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Danish nunchaku, karatestænger
  • nunchakuweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
  • karatestængerweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Dutch wurgstokjes
  • wurgstokjesweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Finnish nunchaku
  • nunchakuweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
French nunchaku
  • nunchakuweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
German Nunchaku
  • Nunchakuweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Hungarian nuncsaku
  • nuncsakuweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Indonesian ruyung
  • ruyungweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Italian nunchaku
  • nunchakuweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Japanese 双節棍, ヌンチャク
  • 双節棍 (nunchaku)weapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
  • ヌンチャク (nunchaku)weapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
  • ヌウチク (nūchaku)weapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Korean 쌍절곤
  • 쌍절곤 (ssangjeolgon)weapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Polish nunczako, nunczaku
  • nunczakoweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
  • nunczakuweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Portuguese nunchaku
  • nunchakuweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Russian нунча́ки, нунча́ку
  • нунча́ки (nunčáki)weapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
  • нунча́ку (nunčáku)weapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
  • нунтя́ку (nuntjáku)weapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Spanish nunchaku, chaco
  • nunchakuweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
  • chacoweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Swedish nunchaku, karate pinnar
  • nunchakuweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
  • karate pinnarweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Turkish nunçaku
  • nunçakuweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Vietnamese nhị khúc côn, côn nhị khúc
  • nhị khúc cônweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
  • côn nhị khúcweapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
Cite this entry
APA

nunchaku. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nunchaku

MLA

“nunchaku.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nunchaku. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nunchaku,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nunchaku.

Source: nunchaku on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.