feng shui

noun

rules in Chinese philosophy that govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to patterns of yin and yang and the flow of energy (qi); the favorable or unfavorable effects are taken into consideration in designing and siting buildings and graves and furniture

• Regions:

↑China, ↑People's Republic of China, ↑mainland China, ↑Communist China, ↑Red China, ↑PRC, ↑Cathay

• Hypernyms: ↑principle, ↑rule

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\\ˈfəŋˈshwā\ noun

Etymology: Chinese (Pekingese) fêng¹ shui³, literally, wind and water, from fêng¹ wind + shui³ water

: a system of geomancy employed in China to bring practice into harmony with natural forces (as in determining the site of a grave or house)

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/fung" shway"/

the Chinese art or practice of creating harmonious surroundings that enhance the balance of yin and yang, as in arranging furniture or determining the siting of a house.

[ < Chin: natural surroundings, lit., wind and water]

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feng shui /fung shwē/

noun

In Chinese philosophy, a discipline that takes into account the influences of energies in the natural environment on a building, placing of furniture, an important event, etc, in order to ensure the optimum happiness and prosperity for the inhabitants, participants, etc

ORIGIN: Chin fēng wind, and shuǐ water

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feng shui UK [ˌfʌŋ ˈʃweɪ] US noun [uncountable]

a Chinese system of designing buildings or arranging rooms according to special rules about the flow of energy that is thought to influence people’s lives

Thesaurus: architecture and building design_hyponym farm buildings and structures where animals are kept_hyponym

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['fəng 'shwē; -shwā]

n. (in Chinese thought) a system of laws considered to govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy (qi), and whose favorable or unfavorable effects are taken into account when siting and designing buildings

Origin:

Chinese, from fēng ‘wind’ and shuĭ ‘water’

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/ˈfʌŋˈʃwiː/ noun [noncount]

: a Chinese system for positioning a building and the objects within a building in a way that is thought to agree with spiritual forces and to bring health and happiness

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feng shui f14 [ˌfeŋ ˈʃuːi] [ˌfeŋ ˈʃuːi] [ˌfʊŋ ˈʃweɪ] [ˌfʊŋ ˈʃweɪ] noun uncountable (from Chinese)

a Chinese system for deciding the right position for a building and for placing objects inside a building in order to make people feel comfortable and happy

 

Word Origin:

[feng shui] Chinese, from fēng ‘wind’ and shuǐ ‘water’.