When spoken, this word sounds like, “Chee.” If you are asked to define qi, you will want to start in the world of Chinese philosophy. In Chinese culture, the qi definition refers to the fundamental life force that flows through every person and thing. When people try to define qi, they will often speak of balancing their qi in acupuncture or focusing their qi in martial arts.

A more recent qi meaning comes from the world of technology. Newer smartphones are often Qi-charging enabled. This qi definition plays on the image of flowing energy. Here, the qi meaning is about wireless power transfer from one device to another. If you place your smartphone on a Qi-charging device, you can power up the battery without using a cord.