Chinese word

太极

Pronunciation

Pinyintài jí

Meaning

  • nountai chi

Example

昨天我和朋友在公园学了太极。zuó tiān wǒ hé péng yǒu zài gōng yuán xué le tài jí

Yesterday, my friend and I learned tai chi in the park.

Illustration for 太极 (tai chi)

More examples

哲学课上老师讲了太极的起源。zhé xué kè shàng lǎo shī jiǎng le tài jí de qǐ yuán

In philosophy class, the teacher explained the origins of tai chi.

Core concept

A system where opposing forces stay in balance, represented visually and trained through flowing martial movements.

Common phrases

  • 太极图tài jí tú

    yin-yang diagram

  • 太极图案tài jí tú àn

    yin-yang pattern

  • 太极拳tài jí quán

    tai chi boxing

Similar words

太极拳tài jí quán: A traditional Chinese martial art based on practicing fixed, slow movement sequences.
气功qì gōng: A Chinese practice for health that joins breathing with focused attention.
武术wǔ shù: Traditional Chinese martial arts focused on learning techniques for attack and defense.
阴阳yīn yáng: A Chinese philosophical concept of two opposing qualities that support each other.

Definition in Chinese

指一种源于中国的健身与拳术流派，常用来指太极拳及其练习方法。zhǐ yì zhǒng yuán yú zhōng guó de jiàn shēn yǔ quán shù liú pài cháng yòng lái zhǐ tài jí quán jí qí liàn xí fāng fǎ

Word origin

太极 (tàijí, "supreme polarity") combines 太 (tài, "great") and 极 (jí, "ultimate point"), first naming a cosmic principle and later lending its name to the martial art.

Usage tips

  • The English form tai chi comes from an older romanization of Mandarin, so its spelling does not show the modern Mandarin pronunciation clearly.

Other meanings

  • yin-yang symbolnoun

Opposites

  • 无极wú jíthe boundlessnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word