There is no adequate translation fully to illustrate the subtle nuances of the Chinese word Qi in the English language. Some translate it as breath, air and others as an unseen life force. The most widely accepted explanation of Qi is that it is a form of subtle or invisible energy. This in itself causes problems of interpretation because this “energy” can be interpreted as being numerous things or feelings.
A commonly accepted Chinese character for Qi was the symbol for air or breath. In the older standard characters before the simplified ones were introduced the radicals or parts of the Chinese character form an illustration of a stove cooking rice with the invisible steam raising the pot lid. Hence, the concept of an unseen, immaterial force, animating a material objects.
In modern simplified characters, the radical for rice or grain has been removed leaving the stove, steam strokes and the lid yet the meaning remains the same. Although there are many interpretations we can say that Qi = invisible energy. In the human body then Qi can be thought of as a motivating invisible energy combined with various factors like air, food, blood, and tissues that provides vitality, longevity, and health.
Therefore, what we are talking about is not so much a THING as an IDEA! We are talking about a consequence not a true substance. If it is a consequence then Qi is a result of the mixture of various things acting as a catalyst to produce the effect of Qi or unseen animation or life energy. Ancient texts bear out this as being a better definition of Qi than trying to define it as some mysterious ectoplasm or unknown substance outside of the laws of physics.
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