jyun4 hok6玄學玄学
Jyutpingjyun4 hok6
Yaleyùhn hohk
Definition
Metaphysics; specifically, either supernatural practices like feng shui or the Wei-Jin Daoist philosophical school.
- supernatural or superstitious theories, such as feng shui and divination
- technicalMystic Learning; a school of Neo-Daoist philosophy from the Wei and Jin dynasties
colloquialother
How it's used
Refers broadly to traditional Chinese occult practices like fortune telling, face reading, and feng shui in modern Hong Kong. While it carries a scholarly tone from its historical roots in philosophy, it is now almost exclusively used to describe superstitious or mystical arts. Use it when discussing why someone might change their office layout or consult a calendar for an auspicious date.
Examples
He really likes studying metaphysics and is always looking at feng shui.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with scientific or academic philosophy, as the term is heavily associated with folk beliefs and divination in daily life. It is not used to describe abstract Western philosophical concepts.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
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- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
