feng shui

/ˌfʌŋ ˈʃweɪ/ Chinese Origin Philosophy

Original Word

风水

Mandarin (fēng shuǐ)

Entered English

1980s

First recorded usage in English

The Story Behind "feng shui"

From Mandarin 'fēng shuǐ' (风水), literally 'wind water', the ancient Chinese practice of arranging buildings and objects to achieve harmony with spiritual forces. Gained Western popularity in the 1980s.

Example Usage

"She rearranged the furniture according to feng shui principles."

All Chinese Loanwords Look Up in Dictionary

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