feng shui

[ fuhng shwey, feng shwee ]

1. 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.

feng shui

/ ˈfʌŋ ˈʃweɪ /

noun

1. the Chinese art of determining the most propitious design and placement of a grave, building, room, etc, so that the maximum harmony is achieved between the flow of chi of the environment and that of the user, believed to bring good fortune

Word History and Origins

Origin of feng shui¹

1795–1800; from Chinese: natural surroundings, literally, “wind and water”

Word History and Origins

Origin of feng shui¹

C20: from Chinese feng wind + shui water

Example Sentences

Dulfo, 17, and his family still try to celebrate Lunar New Year by wearing red outfits, cooking dumplings and refreshing their home according to feng shui principles.

From Seattle Times

My grandfather was a believer in feng shui and fortune-telling, and he had my dad’s reading done at birth.

From Los Angeles Times

One person said Trina had asked a feng shui expert to be involved in the final decision.

From Reuters

In China, such practices go beyond those categorized in the Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism to include other faith systems and folk beliefs such as feng shui.

From Washington Times

“It’s like he came in immediately yelling and barking. He basically messed up the feng shui of the whole house.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• interior design