qīnggōng
Also written: qinggong; qing gong; lightness skill; light-body skill
A martial-arts concept associated with exceptional agility, balance, speed, jumping, climbing, and light-footed movement. In wuxia fiction, it is stylized into roof-running, long leaps, water-skimming, and near-flight.
Literal meaning
lightness skill
Cultural context
Real martial traditions include conditioning and movement skills described with similar language, but the spectacular version familiar from film and television is a fictional convention enhanced by choreography, wire work, editing, and visual effects.
How dramas use it
Qinggong is used for pursuit, escape, rooftop travel, surprise entrances, crossing walls or water, and visually distinguishing highly trained martial artists from ordinary fighters.
Usage & formality
It should not be described as literal unaided human flight in real-world martial arts. The dramatic form is intentional fantasy and stylization.