---
title: chi — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «chi» in the school dictionary: The 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet, written χ, said "kye" (rhymes with "sky"). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chi/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [C](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/) / chi

# chi

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** 22nd letter, chī, Grandma, Chi, Greek letter, people · **What happens:** write, say, letter, spell, flow, use · **To what, where:** kye, Greek alphabet, Chinese belief, life energy, body, tai chi · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«chi» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [chi in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/chi.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet, written χ, said "kye" (rhymes with "sky").

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chi:m1:1
# text = The 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet, written χ, said "kye" (rhymes with "sky").
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	22nd	22nd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Combi|NumType=Ord	3	amod	_	_
3	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	Greek	Greek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	alphabet	alphabet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	χ	χ	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
12	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	kye	kye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
16	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	rhymes	rhyme	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	_
18	with	with	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet and written χ | kye and rhymes with sky |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent kye=Topic |
| 3 | **letter** |  |  | the Greek alphabet and written χ |  |  |  |  | nom letter «communication transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: Chinese tradition — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Also spelled qi: in Chinese belief, a life energy said to flow through the body and nature, used in tai chi, kung fu and traditional medicine.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chi:m2:1
# text = Also spelled qi: in Chinese belief, a life energy said to flow through the body and nature, used in tai chi, kung fu and traditional medicine.
1	Also	also	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	spelled	spell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
3	qi	qi	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	Chinese	Chinese	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	belief	belief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	energy	energy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
12	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	acl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	flow	flow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	through	through	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
22	in	in	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	tai	tai	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	_
24	chi	chi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
26	kung	kung	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	compound	_	_
27	fu	fu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	conj	_	_
28	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
29	traditional	traditional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	30	amod	_	_
30	medicine	medicine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spell** | participle |  |  |  | Chinese belief and a life energy |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent in belief=Manner |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | participle |  | a life energy *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **flow** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | the body and nature |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through body=Location |
| 4 | **use** | participle |  | Chinese belief and a life energy *not said here* |  | tai chi and kung fu and traditional medicine |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: Mandarin, pinyin — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
chī means "to eat", as in chī fàn, "eat a meal". It sounds like "chir" to an English ear and is not an English word.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* chī means "to eat", as in chī fàn, "eat a meal".

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chi:m3:1
# text = chī means "to eat", as in chī fàn, "eat a meal".
1	chī	chī	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	chī	chī	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	fàn	fàn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | chī |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **eat** *not said to happen, in a quote* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | as chī fàn | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **eat** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | a meal |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent meal=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* It sounds like "chir" to an English ear and is not an English word.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chi:m3:2
# text = It sounds like "chir" to an English ear and is not an English word.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	chir	chir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	English	English	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	English	English	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sound** | present | chī |  |  |  |  | like chir; to a English ear | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ PP.experiencer»: agent=Stimulus to ear=Experiencer |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | present | chī *not said here* | a English word |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma does tai chi in the park every morning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chi:x1:1
# text = Grandma does tai chi in the park every morning.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	tai	tai	X	FW	_	4	compound	_	_
4	chi	chi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | Grandma | tai chi |  | the park | morning |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chi=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chi is the Greek letter that looks like an x.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chi:x2:1
# text = Chi is the Greek letter that looks like an x.
1	Chi	Chi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	Greek	Greek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	x	x	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Chi | the Greek letter |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | present | the Greek letter |  |  |  |  | like a x | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some people believe chi flows through the body.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chi:x3:1
# text = Some people believe chi flows through the body.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	chi	chi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	flows	flow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	through	through	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | some people |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **flow** | present | chi |  |  | the body |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through body=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Mandarin, chī means "to eat".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chi:x4:1
# text = In Mandarin, chī means "to eat".
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Mandarin	Mandarin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	chī	chī	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | chī |  |  | Mandarin |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **eat** *not said to happen, in a quote* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My friend said "chī fàn le ma?" to his grandad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chi:x5:1
# text = My friend said "chī fàn le ma?" to his grandad.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	chī	chī	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
6	fàn	fàn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	le	le	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	ma	ma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	grandad	grandad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | My friend |  | friend's grandad |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V PP.recipient S-Quote»: agent=Agent to grandad=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists say there is no proof that chi exists as a real energy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chi:x6:1
# text = Scientists say there is no proof that chi exists as a real energy.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	4	expl	_	_
4	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
5	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	6	det	_	_
6	proof	proof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	chi	chi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	exists	exist	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	energy	energy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Scientists |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **be** | present | no proof |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **exist** | present | chi | no proof *not said here* |  |  |  | as a real energy | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [chewy](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chewy/)
- next →: [chicago](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chicago/)
- ↑ back to [C in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/)