Meaning & use
chi
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Meanings
noununcountabletechnical
In Chinese philosophy and traditional medicine, the vital energy believed to flow through the body and the universe.
Grammar: No article and no plural: say 'the flow of chi', not 'a chi'.
Patterns
- the flow of chi
- balance your chi
- chi energy
Acupuncture is based on the idea that illness comes from blocked chi.
In tai chi classes, students learn slow movements to help their chi flow freely.
Many people in China believe that good health depends on balanced chi.
nouncountable or uncountablespecialist
The 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet, written Χ or χ.
Grammar: Plural 'chis' is rare; it is usually named rather than counted.
Patterns
- the letter chi
- a chi symbol
In statistics, the chi-square test uses the Greek letter chi.
The symbol chi looks like a curved X.
Common combinations
- chi energy
- Some healers claim they can feel a person's chi energy with their hands.
- the flow of chi
- The massage is meant to improve the flow of chi around the body.
- balance your chi
- Yoga and meditation are said to help you balance your chi.
- chi-square test
- The researchers used a chi-square test to compare the two groups.
Synonyms and how they differ
Commonly confused: chi or Tai Chi? chi or chi-chi?
chi vs Tai Chi
'Tai chi' is a Chinese exercise system whose name contains 'chi'; the single word 'chi' refers to the energy itself.
chi vs chi-chi
An informal adjective meaning too stylish or showy, unrelated to vital energy.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'chi' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Chi' is an uncountable noun for vital energy, so it can be blocked or balanced, as in option 1. Options 0, 2 and 3 treat it as an activity or a countable object, which does not match this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “chi”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.