The concept of 吉凶 is a cornerstone of traditional Chinese cosmology and is far more profound than the Western idea of “good luck/bad luck.”
In the West, “luck” is often viewed as a random, unpredictable force. You might be “lucky” to find a parking spot or “unlucky” to get caught in the rain. 吉凶, however, is treated as an intrinsic quality that can be analyzed, predicted, and even influenced. It’s a core principle in:
The I Ching (《易经》 or Book of Changes): This ancient divination text is built around interpreting hexagrams to determine the 吉凶 of a given situation, offering guidance on whether to act or wait.
Feng Shui (风水): The entire practice of Feng Shui is about arranging one's living and working space to maximize auspicious energy (吉) and mitigate inauspicious energy (凶).
Date Selection (择日): Traditionally, and still for many today, choosing a date for a major life event—like a wedding, starting a business, or moving house—involves consulting an almanac or a fortune-teller to find an “auspicious day” (吉日) and avoid an “inauspicious day” (凶日).
This reflects a worldview where humans are not merely subject to random chance, but can actively align themselves with the favorable currents of the cosmos to improve their outcomes. It's about wisdom and harmony, not just blind luck.
While it may sound ancient, the concept of 吉凶 remains relevant in modern life, often in the background of decisions.
Fortune-Telling and Divination: It is the primary term used when visiting a temple or fortune-teller. You might ask them to `算一算吉凶` (suàn yī suàn jíxiōng) – “calculate the good and bad fortune” of a potential marriage, career move, or investment.
Formal and Literary Language: The term is common in formal speech, literature, and historical dramas. It’s often used in idioms to convey a sense of gravity and uncertainty about a significant undertaking.
Describing Risky Situations: When facing a high-stakes situation with an unknown outcome, people might say `此行吉凶未卜` (cǐ xíng jíxiōng wèibǔ), meaning “The outcome of this journey is yet unknown.”
Its connotation is neutral, as it simply describes the two possibilities. The context determines whether the speaker is hopeful or worried.