noun
chi
keye
noun
1
The 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet, written Χ, χ.
"The symbol chi looks like the letter X."
"Physicists sometimes use chi to label an unknown angle or variable."
2
In Chinese philosophy and traditional medicine, the vital life-energy said to flow through the body (also spelled qi).
"Tai chi practitioners say the slow movements help balance your chi."
"Acupuncturists claim to unblock stagnant chi along the body's meridians."
How to Use Chi
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the Greek letter X, or (in a completely separate, Chinese-derived sense) the life-force energy talked about in tai chi and traditional medicine.
Common mistake
The Greek-letter sense and the Chinese life-energy sense are unrelated words that just happen to be spelled the same in English.
Common pairings
tai chi
chi energy
the letter chi
Word Forms
chis plural, chis plural, chis plural, Chis plural
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The symbol _____ looks like the letter X.
Etymology
From Latin chī, taken from Ancient Greek χεῖ (kheî), the name of the letter Χ.