Definitions
(noun)
gas; air
(noun)
vital energy; qi
(noun)
mood; temper; anger
(verb)
to get angry; to be annoyed
Etymology
Depicts a gust of air.
About
The character for "气" originally represented rising vapor or mist, a concept visually suggested by its early forms which depicted flowing clouds or ethereal currents. Its traditional counterpart, "氣", incorporates the "米" (rice) radical, a later addition that semantically linked the idea of vapor to the steam from cooking grain and, by extension, to the vital nourishment and energy within the body. This composite form reinforced a conceptual evolution from merely denoting atmospheric air or breath to encompassing the physiological notion of vital energy or life force circulating within living beings. Over centuries, its meaning broadened further into the philosophical and metaphysical realms, where it came to signify the fundamental, dynamic substance constituting the cosmos and animating all phenomena, while also being applied to more mundane aspects of human disposition, such as temper or morale. Thus, the character's journey encapsulates a movement from a concrete, observable natural phenomenon to a complex abstraction central to both traditional medicine and philosophical thought.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
天气很好。
他今天很生气。
房间里空气清新。
跑步后他喘不过气。
她说话时语气很平静。
这座城市空气污染严重。
会场的空气气氛很紧张。
失败并没有让他泄气。