Jump to content

chi

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Translingual

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

Clipping of English Chinese.

Symbol

[edit]

chi

  1. (international standards) ISO 639-2/B language code for Chinese.

See also

[edit]

English

[edit]
Ancient Greek alphabet

phi

psi
Χ χ
Ancient Greek: χεῖ
Wikipedia article on chi
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Etymology 1

[edit]

From Latin chī, from Ancient Greek χεῖ (kheî).

Alternative forms

[edit]

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

chi (plural chis)

  1. The twenty-second letter of the Classical and Modern Greek alphabets.
Derived terms
[edit]
Derived terms
[edit]
Translations
[edit]
See also
[edit]

Etymology 2

[edit]
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

From the Mandarin () from the Wade–Giles romanization: chʻi⁴, from Middle Chinese (MC khj+jH), from Old Chinese (OC *kʰɯds, “breath, vapor”). Compare modern Japanese () (ki), Korean 기(氣) (gi) and Vietnamese khí ().

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

chi (usually uncountable, plural chis)

  1. (philosophy, mysticism) A life force in traditional Chinese philosophy, culture, medicine, etc, related (but not limited) to breath and circulation.
    • [1987, “ch'i”, in Encyclopedia Britannica[2], 15th edition, volume 3, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 186, column 3:
      Early Taoist philosophers and alchemists regarded ch'i as a vital force inhering in the breath and bodily fluids and developed techniques to alter and control the movement of ch'i within the body; their aim was to achieve physical longevity and spiritual power.]
    • 2001, Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl, Viking Press, page 196:
      He took several deep breaths, finding his chi as Butler had taught him.
    • 2013 April 2, David Tanis, “Hurry Up, Spring”, in The New York Times[3], →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 02 April 2013, Dining & Wine‎[4]:
      At the greenmarket, it’s still mostly potatoes and apples. There are no tender greens, fava beans, peas, asparagus, artichokes, sorrel, rhubarb or early strawberries.
      Those harbingers of the season are said to be full of chi, or qi, the Chinese word for life force. We’re craving them as we’re craving lighter, brighter-tasting meals, food that is greener and fresher.
    • 2017 January 8, Leslie Hsu Oh, “I tried the Chinese practice of ‘sitting the month’ after childbirth”, in The Washington Post[5], →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 08 January 2017, Health & Science‎[6]:
      According to traditional Chinese medicine, blood carries chi, your “life force,” which fuels all the functions of the body. When you lose blood, you lose chi, and this causes your body to go into a state of yin (cold). When yin (cold) and yang (hot) are out of balance, your body will suffer physical disorders.
Alternative forms
[edit]
[edit]
Translations
[edit]
See also
[edit]

Etymology 3

[edit]
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

From the pinyin romanization of Mandarin (chǐ). Doublet of chek.

Alternative forms

[edit]

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

chi (usually uncountable, plural chis)

  1. The Chinese foot, a traditional Chinese unit of length based on the human forearm.
  2. (Mainland China) The Chinese unit of length standardized in 1984 as 1/3 of a meter.
  3. (Taiwan) The Taiwanese unit of length standardized as 10/33 of a meter, identical to the Japanese shaku.
  4. (Hong Kong) The chek or Hong Kong foot, a unit of length standardized as 0.371475 meters.
Synonyms
[edit]
[edit]
  • shaku, the equivalent Japanese unit

Etymology 4

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

chi (plural chis)

  1. Clipping of chihuahua.

See also

[edit]

Anagrams

[edit]

Atsahuaca

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

chi

  1. fire

Buglere

[edit]

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

chi

  1. water

References

[edit]
  • J. Diego Quesada (2012), Gramática del Buglere [A grammar of Buglere], Editorial Universitaria Abya-Yala, page 33
  • Bolaños Villalobos, Isabel Cristina (2022), Glosario de la lengua Buglere [Glossary of the Buglere language]‎[7], Editorial Universitaria Abya-Yala, →ISBN, page 14

Cornish

[edit]

Alternative forms

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From Proto-Brythonic *tɨɣ, from Proto-Celtic *tegos, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teg-. Cognate with Breton ti, Irish teach, Manx thie, çhagh, Scottish Gaelic taigh, and Welsh .

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

chi m (plural chiow)

  1. house

Derived terms

[edit]

Adverb

[edit]

yn chi

  1. at home

Mutation

[edit]
Mutation of chi
radical soft aspirate hard mixed
chi ji unchanged unchanged unchanged

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Cornish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Dutch

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From Ancient Greek χεῖ (kheî).

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

chi m or f (plural chi's, diminutive chi'tje n)

  1. chi (letter of the Greek alphabet)

Further reading

[edit]

Esperanto

[edit]

Particle

[edit]

chi

  1. H-system spelling of ĉi

Garo

[edit]

Alternative forms

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From Proto-Bodo-Garo *tɯi¹ (water), from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-turʔ (water; fluid; liquid; river; to soak; to spit). Cognate with Atong (India) tyi (water), Kokborok twi (water).

Noun

[edit]

chi

  1. water

Derived terms

[edit]

References

[edit]
  • The Bodos in Assam: a socio-cultural study, year 2005-2006 (2007)

Guerrero Amuzgo

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

chi

  1. grandfather

Adverb

[edit]

chi

  1. not

Ibaloi

[edit]

Article

[edit]

chi

  1. (Kabayan) dialectal form of shi

Italian

[edit]

Pronunciation

[edit]

Etymology 1

[edit]

From Latin quis, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷís, *kʷos.

Pronoun

[edit]

chi m or f (invariable) (interrogative pronoun)

  1. who, whom; whoever
    Chi viene qui?Who goes there?
    Con chi vengono?Who are they coming with?
    Chi stiamo ascoltando?Who(m) are we hearing?

Etymology 2

[edit]

From Latin quī, from Old Latin quei, from Proto-Italic *kʷoi.

Pronoun

[edit]

chi m sg or f sg by sense (fused relative, indefinite)

  1. he/she/they who, those who, the ones who; (archaic) whom
    La mamma bacia chi è bravo/aMom kisses those who are brave.
    Amo solo chi mi amaI only love the ones who love me.
    Chi si scusa s'accusa.He who apologizes assumes his blame.
  2. (absolute) whoever, who
    Vènga chi può.Come who can.
    Chi lo dicesse mentirebbe.Whoever said that would be lying.
  3. (when repeated) some, ... others, etc.
    Chi leggeva, chi chiacchierava, chi disegnava.Some would read, some were chatting, others drawing.
  4. (with a subjunctive)
    Chi mi domandasse ciò, non risponderei.If one were to ask me that, I would not answer.
    Cerco chi mi dia un buon consiglio.I am looking for someone who'd give a good advice.
Usage notes
[edit]
  • chi is a fused relative pronoun, meaning that its antecedents are comprised within its own meaning, it may either appear as a direct object or as a stand-alone subject. When expressing simple relativity, che or cui are used instead: "L'uomo che ti ha visto." not "L'uomo chi ti ha visto.".
  • This pronoun may only refer to animates in the singular, it can be replaced by either colui che or quello che, which also have a plural.
  • As an indefinite, chi will often be translated with a plural in English: "Vènga chi può", "Come who can" or "May those who can come, come".

See also

[edit]

Etymology 3

[edit]
Italian Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia it

Borrowed from Latin chī, from Ancient Greek χεῖ (kheî).

Noun

[edit]

chi m or f (invariable)

  1. chi (Greek letter)

Further reading

[edit]

chi in Luciano Canepari, Dizionario di Pronuncia Italiana (DiPI)

Japanese

[edit]

Romanization

[edit]

chi

  1. The hiragana syllable (chi) or the katakana syllable (chi) in Hepburn romanization.

K'iche'

[edit]

Pronunciation

[edit]

Conjunction

[edit]

chi

  1. and
  2. that
  3. in
[edit]

References

[edit]
  • Christenson, Allen J. (2003), Kʼicheʼ-English dictionary and Guide to the pronunciation of the Kʼicheʼ-Maya alphabet[8], Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, →OCLC

Kokborok

[edit]

Numeral

[edit]

chi

  1. ten

References

[edit]
  • Binoy Debbarma, Concise Kokborok-English-Bengali Dictionary (2001)

Ladin

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From Latin quis, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷís. Cognates include French qui and Italian chi.

Pronoun

[edit]

chi

  1. who, whoever

Lombard

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

Akin to Italian chi, from Latin quis.

Pronoun

[edit]

chi

  1. who

Lutuv

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

Cognate with Lai chuih

Verb

[edit]

chi

  1. to kick

References

[edit]
  • Brandy, Anthony (February 2026), “Interactions between directionals, TAM marking, and Aktionsart in Hnaring Lutuv (Lautu) Chin”, in Indiana Working Papers in South Asian Languages and Cultures[9], volume 4, number 1, →DOI

Mandarin

[edit]

Romanization

[edit]

chi

  1. nonstandard spelling of chī
  2. nonstandard spelling of chí
  3. nonstandard spelling of chǐ
  4. nonstandard spelling of chì

Usage notes

[edit]
  • Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.

Norman

[edit]

Pronunciation

[edit]

Adjective

[edit]

chi m

  1. alternative form of chièr

Polish

[edit]
Polish Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia pl

Pronunciation

[edit]
  • IPA(key): /ˈxi/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -i
  • Syllabification: chi

Etymology 1

[edit]

Onomatopoeic.

Interjection

[edit]

chi

  1. he (expression of laughter)

Etymology 2

[edit]

    Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek χεῖ (kheî).

    Noun

    [edit]

    chi n (indeclinable)

    1. chi (Greek letter Χ, χ)

    Etymology 3

    [edit]

    Borrowed from Mandarin (), from Middle Chinese (MC khj+jH), from Old Chinese (OC *kʰɯds).

    Noun

    [edit]

    chi n (indeclinable)

    1. (philosophy, mysticism) chi (fundamental life-force or energy)

    Further reading

    [edit]
    • chi”, in Wielki słownik języka polskiego[10] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
    • chi”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN[11] (in Polish)

    Portuguese

    [edit]

    Pronunciation

    [edit]
     

    Noun

    [edit]

    chi m (plural chis)

    1. (Portugal, colloquial) bear hug (any especially large, tight or enthusiastic hug)
      Synonym: chi-coração

    Noun

    [edit]

    chi m (plural chis)

    1. alternative form of qi

    Further reading

    [edit]

    Sardinian

    [edit]

    Etymology

    [edit]

    From Latin quid, from Proto-Italic *kʷid, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷid.

    Pronunciation

    [edit]

    Conjunction

    [edit]

    chi

    1. (Limba Sarda Comuna) that

    Pronoun

    [edit]

    chi

    1. (relative, Limba Sarda Comuna) who, whom, which (nominative and accusative case)

    Sassarese

    [edit]

    Etymology

    [edit]

    From a conflation of Latin quia, quod, and other conjunctions.

    Pronunciation

    [edit]

    Conjunction

    [edit]

    chi

    1. that
      Li me' amigghi dìzini chi soggu simpàtiggu
      My friends say that I'm nice
    2. than
      Mégliu figlioru di la bonasorthi chi figlioru di re
      Better [to be] son of good luck than son of a king

    Derived terms

    [edit]
    [edit]

    Pronoun

    [edit]

    chi

    1. (relative) who, whom, which
      Lu giràniu, chi ha curori dibessi, dura umbè di tempu fioriddu
      Geraniums, which have various colors, stay in blossom for a long time
      (literally, “The geranium, which has different colors, lasts a lot of time in blossom”)

    Adjective

    [edit]

    chi (invariable)

    1. Used in exclamations to indicate something remarkable; some, what a
      Chi festha!What a party!

    References

    [edit]
    • Rubattu, Antoninu (2006), Dizionario universale della lingua di Sardegna, 2nd edition, Sassari: Edes

    Spanish

    [edit]

    Etymology

    [edit]

    From .

    Pronunciation

    [edit]
    • IPA(key): /ˈt͡ʃi/ [ˈt͡ʃi]
    • Rhymes: -i
    • Syllabification: chi

    Particle

    [edit]

    chi

    1. (childish) synonym of (yes)
      Antonym: ño

    Vietnamese

    [edit]

    Pronunciation

    [edit]

    Etymology 1

    [edit]

      Sino-Vietnamese word from (branch; to spend).

      Noun

      [edit]

      chi

      1. (taxonomy) genus
        Synonym: giống
      Derived terms
      [edit]
      [edit]

      Verb

      [edit]

      chi

      1. to spend (money); to pay out; to disburse
      Derived terms
      [edit]

      Etymology 2

      [edit]

        Sino-Vietnamese word from .

        Noun

        [edit]

        chi

        1. (formal, anatomy, chiefly zoology) a limb
        Usage notes
        [edit]

        In everyday speech, limbs collectively are referred to as tay chân or chân tay, but there is no word for an individual limb, apart from the more specific tay (arm) and chân (leg).

        Derived terms
        [edit]

        Etymology 3

        [edit]
        This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.
        Particularly: “Is the meaning "what for" used in the Central dialects actually? Maybe it's a Southern semantic innovation due to competition with (which is not weird at all in Vietnamese, cf. đỏ (red) vs. hồng (pink)).”

        From Proto-Vietic *ciː (what). Cognate with (the form affected by lenition) and Muong Bi chi.

        Pronoun

        [edit]

        chi ()

        1. (Central Vietnam, literary elsewhere) what; whatever
          Synonym:
          Mi mần chi rứa?
          What are you doing over there?
          • (Can we date this quote?), “Tình đến rồi đi [Love Comes and Goes]”, performed by Thu Thủy:
            Cuộc tình đến rồi đi. Buồn làm chi nhung nhớ làm gì.
            Love comes and goes. Why be sad? Why be tormented by it?
        Derived terms
        [edit]

        Adverb

        [edit]

        chi ()

        1. (Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) what for
          Chi?
          For what?
          Làm vậy chi?
          What did you do that for?

        Welsh

        [edit]

        Pronunciation

        [edit]

        Etymology 1

        [edit]

        From Middle Welsh chwi, from Proto-Celtic *swīs (compare Breton c’hwi, Cornish hwi, Old Irish síi), from Proto-Indo-European *wos.

        Alternative forms

        [edit]

        Pronoun

        [edit]

        chi

        1. you (plural; polite)
        Usage notes
        [edit]
        • In the singular, chi is a polite form like French vous or German Sie.
        • Chi is a feature of most registers of Modern Welsh, whereas very literary Welsh employs chwi.
        • In certain southwestern dialects, chi is used as the indefinite personal pronoun like English you.

        Etymology 2

        [edit]

        Noun

        [edit]

        chi m

        1. aspirated form of ci

        Mutation

        [edit]
        Mutated forms of ci
        radical soft nasal aspirate
        ci gi nghi chi

        Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Welsh.
        All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

        Yola

        [edit]

        Etymology

        [edit]

        From Middle English chaye.

        Pronunciation

        [edit]

        Noun

        [edit]

        chi

        1. A small quantity.[2]
          Synonym: smaddereen
          • 1867, GLOSSARY OF THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY:
            A chi of barach.
            A little barley.

        References

        [edit]
        1. ^ Diarmaid Ó Muirithe (1990), “A Modern Glossary of the Dialect of Forth and Bargy”, in lrish University Review[1], volume 20, number 1, Edinburgh University Press, page 155
        2. ^ Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828), William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867, page 30

        Zou

        [edit]

        Etymology 1

        [edit]

        (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

        Pronunciation

        [edit]
        • IPA(key): [t͡ʃí]
        • Hyphenation: chi

        Noun

        [edit]

        chí

        1. body
        Derived terms
        [edit]

        Etymology 2

        [edit]
        Chi.

        From Proto-Kuki-Chin *tsii. Cognates include Mizo chì.

        Pronunciation

        [edit]
        • IPA(key): [t͡ʃì]
        • Hyphenation: chi

        Noun

        [edit]

        chì

        1. salt

        Etymology 3

        [edit]

        From Proto-Kuki-Chin *tshim.

        Pronunciation

        [edit]
        • IPA(key): [t͡ʃì]
        • Hyphenation: chi

        Verb

        [edit]

        chì (stem II chì)

        1. (transitive) to say
        2. (transitive) to tell

        References

        [edit]
        • Philip Thangliènmâng (2010), Minimal dictionary and Self-tutor Functional Grammar in Zo-English-Hindi, New Delhi: Zoculsin, →ISBN, page 19; 25; 81
        • Lukram Himmat Singh (2013), A Descriptive Grammar of Zou (PhD thesis), Canchipur: Manipur University, page 44