气
qì
气 (qì) is the Chinese word for chi, referring to the fundamental life-force or energy.
Meaning: the fundamental life-force or energy (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The character 气 literally refers to air, gas, steam, breath or vapor, which provides the conceptual foundation for the idea of vital energy.
How do you pronounce it?
qì
Did you know?
- In modern Chinese, 气 is used as a slang term for 'anger'. If someone says they are 'venting' 气, they are letting out emotional frustration rather than physical energy.
- Because 气 can mean 'gas' or 'steam', a chef might use the term to describe the 'breath of a wok', known as 'wok hei', which is the essential smoky flavor in stir-fried dishes.
- In Chinese calligraphy, a person's 'chi' is believed to be transferred onto the paper through the brushstrokes, making the art a physical manifestation of their internal energy.
Examples in context
- 今晚我们一起去吃饭吧。Let's go eat dinner together tonight.
- 我想吃一个苹果，你呢？I want to eat an apple. How about you?
- 练习时要控制气。Liànxí shí yào kòngzhì qì.You need to control your chi when practicing.
- 他体内的气很旺盛。Tā tǐ nèi de qì hěn wàngshèng.The chi inside his body is very strong.
Example conversation
A student asks a teacher about traditional breathing exercises.
- 浩然 Haoran老师，练习时如何控制气？Lǎoshī, liànxí shí rúhé kòngzhì qì?Teacher, how do I control my chi during practice?
- 佳怡 Jiayi你要保持呼吸平稳。Nǐ yào bǎochí hūxī píngwěn.You must keep your breathing steady.
- 浩然 Haoran这样就能感觉到气了吗？Zhèyàng jiù néng gǎnjué dào qì le ma?Will I be able to feel the chi this way?
- 佳怡 Jiayi是的，慢慢来。Shì de, mànman lái.Yes, take it slow.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 气, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
