shǒuqì: 手气 - Luck (in games of chance)

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Summary: In Chinese, 手气 (shǒuqì) refers to a person's temporary luck, specifically in games of chance like mahjong or cards. It's the concept of having a “hot hand” or being “on a roll.” If you keep drawing good cards, you have good 手气; if you keep getting bad ones, your 手气 is poor. Understanding 手气 is essential for anyone wanting to participate in the social gaming culture of China and grasp the nuances of how Chinese speakers talk about luck in everyday life.

Pinyin (with tone marks): shǒuqì

Part of Speech: Noun

HSK Level: N/A

Concise Definition: A person's luck at a particular moment, especially while playing games involving drawing cards or tiles.

In a Nutshell: Think of 手气 (shǒuqì) as the “luck of your hands.” It's not about your overall life fortune, but about the luck you're experiencing right now in a specific game. It's a tangible feeling that players believe influences whether they win or lose. When your 手气 is good, you feel unstoppable. When it's bad, it feels like the deck is stacked against you.

手 (shǒu): Hand. This is one of the most fundamental characters, representing the physical hand used to draw cards, tiles, or roll dice.

气 (qì): Air, gas, spirit, or vital energy. This is a profound concept in Chinese culture, representing an invisible flow of energy.

The characters combine literally to mean “hand energy.” This beautifully captures the idea of a flow of luck or fortune that is channeled through your hands during a game. It's as if your hands have their own temporary state of luckiness.

手气 (shǒuqì) is deeply embedded in the social fabric of China, largely due to the immense popularity of games like Mahjong (麻将), Dou Dizhu (斗地主), and various other card and dice games. These games are not just for gambling; they are core social activities, especially during festivals like Chinese New Year.

Talking about one's 手气 is a way to comment on the game's progress without directly boasting about skill or complaining about other players. It externalizes the outcome, attributing wins and losses to the mysterious and fickle flow of luck. This helps maintain social harmony (a key cultural value) during competitive but friendly games.

Comparison to Western Culture: The closest English concept is having a “hot hand,” being “on a roll,” or having a “lucky streak.” However, these are typically phrases or states of being. 手气 (shǒuqì) is treated as a noun—a quantifiable thing you possess at that moment. You can say “My 手气 is good” (我的手气很好) in the same way you'd say “My car is red.” This subtle difference makes luck feel more tangible and immediate in Chinese. It's not just something that's happening; it's something you *have*.

手气 (shǒuqì) is used almost exclusively in informal, social settings, particularly during games. It's a very common term you'll hear among friends and family gathered around a table.

Positive Connotation: When someone is winning repeatedly, they or others will exclaim that their 手气 is good (好), strong (旺), or “on fire.”

Negative Connotation: When someone is consistently getting bad hands and losing, they will lament that their 手气 is bad (差), terrible (臭), or “stinky.”

It's a fun and lighthearted way to express the ups and downs of a game. Trying to “change” one's bad 手气 by washing one's hands or switching seats is a common playful superstition.

运气 (yùnqì) - The most important related term. It means general, long-term luck or fortune in life, as opposed to the specific, game-related luck of 手气.

手感 (shǒugǎn) - “Hand feel.” This refers to a player's skill, coordination, or “touch” in a game or sport (like basketball shooting). 手感 is about skill, while 手气 is about pure luck.

麻将 (májiàng) - Mahjong. This is the quintessential social game where the concept of 手气 is most frequently and vividly discussed.

打牌 (dǎpái) - To play cards. The second most common context for using 手气.

赢 (yíng) - To win. A win is often attributed to having good 手气.

输 (shū) - To lose. A loss is often blamed on bad 手气.

倒霉 (dǎoméi) - To have bad luck; unlucky. This is a general term for misfortune, similar in scope to having bad 运气 (yùnqì).

走运 (zǒuyùn) - To have a stroke of good luck. This is a general term for good fortune, similar to having good 运气 (yùnqì).

旺 (wàng) - Prosperous, flourishing. Often used to describe very good 手气 (e.g., 手气很旺).