ng5 hang4五行
Jyutpingng5 hang4
Yaleńgh hàhng
Definition
The five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth) in classical Chinese philosophy.
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How it's used
Beyond its philosophical origins, this term is deeply embedded in everyday life through fortune telling and traditional medicine. People often consult it to balance their personal energy, especially when they believe their birth chart lacks a specific element. It is frequently paired with 陰陽 to describe the fundamental forces governing the universe.
Examples
He really believes in the five elements, he even checks feng shui for renovations.
Do you know which of the five elements is missing from your birth chart?
Related words
Common phrases
Yin Yang and the Five Elements
the mutual generation cycle of the five elements
the mutual overcoming cycle of the five elements
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple scientific classification of matter, but it is better understood as a system of dynamic relationships and cycles rather than static physical substances.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
