t'ai chi ch'uan

[ tahy-jee-chwahn, chee ]

noun
  1. a Chinese martial art and form of stylized, meditative exercise, characterized by methodically slow circular and stretching movements and positions of bodily balance.

Origin of t'ai chi ch'uan

1
First recorded in 1960–65, t'ai chi ch'uan is from Chinese tàijí quán literally, “fist of the Great Absolute”
  • Also called t'ai chi, tai chi, tai ji .
  • Also tai chi chuan; Pinyin, tai ji quan [tahy-jee-chyahn]. /ˈtaɪ ˈdʒi ˈtʃüɑn/.

Words Nearby t'ai chi ch'uan

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for t'ai chi ch'uan

t'ai chi ch'uan

/ (ˈtaɪ dʒiː ˈtʃwɑːn) /


noun
  1. a Chinese system of callisthenics characterized by coordinated and rhythmic movements: Often shortened to: t'ai chi (ˈtaɪ ˈdʒiː)

Origin of t'ai chi ch'uan

1
Chinese, literally: great art of boxing

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012