feng shui

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A system of spiritual energies, both good and evil, present in the natural features of landscapes.
  2. An ancient Chinese system of geomancy used to design buildings and graves, and to determine the spatial arrangement of things, according to rules about the flow of energy, aimed at achieving harmony with the environment, promoting good fortune and wealth, etc.
  3. The state of having a space in a particular order, though not necessarily in accordance with any actual principles of the Chinese system of geomancy.
verb
  1. To arrange a space according to the rules of feng shui.
noun
  1. Alternative letter-case form of feng shui.

Pronunciation

fŭng shwāʹ fo͝ong shwāʹ fĕng shwāʹ /fʌŋˈʃweɪ/ /fʊŋ-/ /fɛŋ-/ En-us-feng shui.ogg /fɛŋˈʃuː.i/ En-us-feng shui-2.oga

Word forms

feng shui fengshui feng-shui feng shuis feng shuiing feng shuied

Etymology

Borrowed from Mandarin 風水 /风水 (fēngshuǐ, “feng shui (Chinese system of geomancy)”, literally “wind and water”): 風 /风 (fēng, “wind”) + 水 (shuǐ, “water”). Doublet of fung shui.

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