Definition
元气 has two main layers of meaning. In everyday Chinese it means 'vitality' or 'vigor' — the energy that makes you feel lively and healthy. In traditional Chinese philosophy and medicine, it refers to the primordial, undifferentiated energy that underlies all life and the universe, often written in literary or scholarly contexts. The concept is culturally rich, so the exact sense depends heavily on context.
n.
vitalityvigor (everyday sense of physical/mental energy)primordial energyoriginal qi (in traditional Chinese philosophy and medicine)
Examples
- ,元气。Dà bìng yì chǎng hòu, tā xūyào hǎohǎo huīfù yuán qì.After a serious illness, he needs to fully regain his vitality.
- 元气。Zhōngyī rènwéi yuán qì shì réntǐ shēngmìng huódòng de gēnběn.Traditional Chinese medicine believes that primordial qi is the foundation of life activities.
- 元气。Dàojiā jīngdiǎn zhōng cháng tí dào tiāndì zhī chū de yuán qì.Taoist classics often mention the primordial energy at the beginning of heaven and earth.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.