noun / verb HSK 2
Traditional 氣
air · gas · breath · anger · to make angry · to annoy
Meaning
气 is a fundamental character with multiple related meanings centered on the concept of air, breath, or vital energy. It can refer to literal air or gas, the breath you take, or metaphorically to one's temper or spirit. As a verb, it means to make someone angry or to be annoyed.
Usage
In everyday speech, 气 appears in countless compounds. When referring to anger, it's commonly used as "生气" (to get angry) or "气死我了" (you're killing me with anger). The character also forms many weather and atmosphere-related words. Native speakers frequently use 气 to describe mood states and emotional reactions.
Examples
- 01他生气地走出了房间。.He angrily walked out of the room.
- 02这里的空气很新鲜。.The air here is very fresh.
Measure words
- 股一股气
- 口一口气
Common collocations
- 生气
- 气死了
- 出气
- 气氛
Origin
The traditional form 氣 depicts rice (米) steam rising, representing vapor or air. The simplified form 气 is a more abstract representation of the same concept.