t'ai chi chuan
- noun
- /taɪ ˈtʃiː ˈtʃwɑːn/
:
tai chi chuan
- Many people start learning t'ai chi chuan as a gentle way to exercise and reduce stress.
Examples
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She credits t'ai chi chuan for helping her improve her balance and mental calm.
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She practices t'ai chi chuan every morning.
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Every morning, a group gathers in the park to practice t'ai chi chuan together.
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Many people enjoy t'ai chi chuan for its health benefits.
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Every morning, a group gathers in the park to practice t'ai chi chuan together.
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Many people start learning t'ai chi chuan as a gentle way to exercise and reduce stress.
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She credits t'ai chi chuan for helping her improve her balance and mental calm.
Synonyms
10
3.7
A slow, gentle Chinese exercise that uses smooth movements to relax and improve balance
1
7.0
A Chinese exercise of slow gentle movements for relaxation and balance
1
6.5
Slow gentle movements that relax the body and improve balance and health
Slow flowing Chinese exercises that help relax the body, calm the mind, and improve balance
A slow Chinese exercise of gentle body movements and breathing to relax and improve balance
How Vigorous
Surface Forms
Morphology
t'ai + chi + chuan
The element 'chi' (life energy) gives a partial clue that the phrase relates to energy/health practices, but 't'ai' and 'chuan' are loanword morphemes (and in English orthography a proper-name) whose meanings (supreme/ultimate; fist/boxing) are not obvious to a B1 learner. Because the overall sense — a specific Chinese martial-art/meditative exercise — cannot be fully derived from the visible English constituents, the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
T'ai chi chuan comes from Chinese words t'ai chi meaning 'supreme ultimate' and chuan meaning 'fist'. It paints the picture of slow, round movements that show a balance between two opposite forces, so the practice is a gentle fighting art that helps the body and mind stay calm and balanced.