太极 tàijí the Absolute or Supreme Ultimate, the source of all things according to some interpretations of Chinese mythology
How to remember 太极: 太 too much + 极 extremely = the Absolute or Supreme Ultimate, the source of all things according to some interpretations of Chinese mythology.
Characters
How it is used
- Taiji - the cosmological 'Supreme Ultimate', and by extension tai chi - 打太极 (dǎ tàijí) do tai chi; figuratively 打太极 also means to dodge/deflect responsibility.
- The 'deflect/stall' figurative sense (like tai chi's soft parries) is common in office talk. Neutral to colloquial.
Example sentences
- 太极运动适合老年人。 Tàijí yùndòng shìhé lǎoniánrén.Tai Chi exercises are appropriate for the elderly.