Qi (Chi)
/tʃiː/
lit. “breath, vital energy”
The vital life-energy that flows through everything — the basis of Chinese medicine, martial arts, and feng shui.
Origin
A foundational concept across Chinese thought: qi animates living beings, circulates through meridians in the body, and pervades landscapes and weather. Traditional Chinese medicine (including acupuncture) maps and adjusts the flow of qi; tai chi and qigong are practices for cultivating it; feng shui arranges space to let it flow. The Japanese ki and Korean gi are the same character (氣). Star Wars' 'Force' is loosely modelled on it.
Modern usage
Acupuncture, tai chi, and martial-arts contexts use the term technically. 'Good chi' and 'bad chi' have entered casual wellness vocabulary as a near-synonym for vibe. Scrabble made 'qi' famous as a high-value two-letter word.
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