qíjì: 奇迹 - Miracle, Wonder

• Keywords: qiji meaning, qiji Chinese, 奇迹, miracle in Chinese, wonder of the world in Chinese, Chinese word for miracle, what is qiji, HSK 5, Chinese vocabulary, learn Chinese
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 奇迹 (qíjì), the Chinese word for “miracle” or “wonder.” This comprehensive guide explores its cultural significance, from describing ancient wonders like the Great Wall to modern “economic miracles.” Learn how to use qíjì in everyday conversation with practical examples, understand its character breakdown, and see how it differs from related concepts like “magic” or “coincidence.” This is your essential resource for mastering this powerful and inspiring Chinese term.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qíjì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: An extraordinary, awe-inspiring, and often welcome event that is difficult to explain by normal standards.
• In a Nutshell: `奇迹 (qíjì)` is the primary Chinese word for “miracle.” It captures a profound sense of wonder, amazement, and impossibility overcome. While it can refer to divine or supernatural events, it's very commonly used in a secular sense to describe incredible human achievements, astonishing medical recoveries, or breathtaking natural phenomena. It’s a word filled with hope, awe, and admiration for the extraordinary.

• 奇 (qí): This character means “strange,” “odd,” “rare,” or “wonderful.” It points to something that is out of the ordinary and grabs your attention because of its uniqueness.
• 迹 (jì): This character means “trace,” “track,” or “footprint.” It refers to the mark or evidence that something has left behind.

When combined, 奇迹 (qíjì) literally translates to something like a “wonderful trace” or “strange footprint.” The idea is that an extraordinary event has occurred, leaving behind evidence (a “trace”) of its wonderful and unexplainable nature. It’s the mark left on the world by something amazing.

In Western cultures, the word “miracle” is often strongly associated with religious or divine intervention. While 奇迹 (qíjì) certainly covers this meaning (see the related term 神迹 (shénjì)), its modern usage in China is arguably more secular and humanistic. A key cultural application of `奇迹` is in the context of national and collective achievement. The term 经济奇迹 (jīngjì qíjì - economic miracle) is used constantly to describe China's rapid economic development over the past few decades. This reflects a cultural value placed on collective effort, perseverance, and the belief that humans can achieve the seemingly impossible through hard work and unity. Unlike a concept like “fate” which can feel passive, `奇迹` often implies an active breakthrough. It's not just something that happens to you; it's something that can be 创造 (chuàngzào - created). This highlights a proactive, can-do spirit that is a significant aspect of modern Chinese identity. So, while an American might speak of a “miraculous recovery” (personal, often with divine undertones), a Chinese speaker is just as likely to speak of a “miraculous construction project” (collective, human-driven).

`奇迹` is a versatile word used in both formal and informal contexts. Its connotation is overwhelmingly positive and expresses awe.

• Historic and Grand Achievements: It's the standard term for the “Wonders of the World.” The Great Wall is frequently called a `奇迹`. It's also used for major engineering projects or scientific breakthroughs.
• Personal Triumphs: It's used to describe someone surviving a terrible accident, recovering from a serious illness against all odds, or achieving an incredibly difficult personal goal.
• Sports Commentary: Announcers will shout `奇迹!` when a team makes an unbelievable comeback in the final moments of a game.
• Everyday Hyperbole: In conversation, you might use it to exaggerate. For example, if a friend who is always late arrives on time, you could jokingly say, “这真是个奇迹！” (This is truly a miracle!).

• Example 1:
  • 他的康复简直就是一个奇迹。
  • Pinyin: Tā de kāngfù jiǎnzhí jiùshì yí ge qíjì.
  • English: His recovery is simply a miracle.
  • Analysis: A very common usage, referring to a medical situation where recovery was unexpected. `简直 (jiǎnzhí)` means “simply” or “virtually” and is often used to emphasize the miraculous nature of the event.
• Example 2:
  • 中国过去三十年的经济发展被世界公认为一个奇迹。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó guòqù sānshí nián de jīngjì fāzhǎn bèi shìjiè gōngrèn wéi yí ge qíjì.
  • English: China's economic development over the past 30 years is recognized by the world as a miracle.
  • Analysis: This is a formal and very common example of using `奇迹` to describe a large-scale, national achievement.
• Example 3:
  • 在体育比赛中，我们永远不应该放弃希望，因为奇迹随时可能发生。
  • Pinyin: Zài tǐyù bǐsài zhōng, wǒmen yǒngyuǎn bù yīnggāi fàngqì xīwàng, yīnwèi qíjì suíshí kěnéng fāshēng.
  • English: In sports competitions, we should never give up hope, because a miracle can happen at any time.
  • Analysis: This captures the inspirational and hopeful feeling associated with `奇迹`.
• Example 4:
  • 长城是人类建筑史上的奇迹之一。
  • Pinyin: Chángchéng shì rénlèi jiànzhù shǐshàng de qíjì zhī yī.
  • English: The Great Wall is one of the miracles of human architectural history.
  • Analysis: Used to describe one of the “Wonders of the World.” The structure `…之一 (…zhī yī)` means “one of…”.
• Example 5:
  • 生命本身就是一个奇迹。
  • Pinyin: Shēngmìng běnshēn jiùshì yí ge qíjì.
  • English: Life itself is a miracle.
  • Analysis: A philosophical or poetic use of the word, reflecting on the wonder of existence.
• Example 6:
  • 要在一天之内完成这么多工作，除非发生奇迹。
  • Pinyin: Yào zài yì tiān zhī nèi wánchéng zhème duō gōngzuò, chúfēi fāshēng qíjì.
  • English: To finish this much work in one day is impossible, unless a miracle happens.
  • Analysis: Here, `奇迹` is used to express that something is highly improbable or impossible under normal circumstances. `除非 (chúfēi)` means “unless.”
• Example 7:
  • 球队在最后一分钟连进两球，创造了逆转奇迹。
  • Pinyin: Qiúduì zài zuìhòu yì fēnzhōng lián jìn liǎng qiú, chuàngzào le nìzhuǎn qíjì.
  • English: The team scored two goals in a row in the last minute, creating a comeback miracle.
  • Analysis: `创造奇迹 (chuàngzào qíjì)` is a common collocation meaning “to create a miracle.” `逆转 (nìzhuǎn)` means “reversal” or “comeback.”
• Example 8:
  • 对于这对不孕不育的夫妇来说，孩子的出生是一个真正的奇迹。
  • Pinyin: Duìyú zhè duì búyùn búyù de fūfù láishuō, háizi de chūshēng shì yí ge zhēnzhèng de qíjì.
  • English: For this infertile couple, the birth of their child was a true miracle.
  • Analysis: Shows a deeply personal and emotional context for the word.
• Example 9:
  • 在茫茫人海中遇见你，对我来说就是一个奇迹。
  • Pinyin: Zài mángmáng rénhǎi zhōng yùjiàn nǐ, duì wǒ lái shuō jiùshì yí ge qíjì.
  • English: Meeting you in this vast sea of people is a miracle to me.
  • Analysis: A romantic and common phrase used to express how special and improbable a fateful encounter feels.
• Example 10:
  • 他从那场可怕的事故中幸存下来，所有人都说这是一个奇迹。
  • Pinyin: Tā cóng nà chǎng kěpà de shìgù zhōng xìngcún xiàlái, suǒyǒu rén dōu shuō zhè shì yí ge qíjì.
  • English: He survived that terrible accident; everyone said it was a miracle.
  • Analysis: A classic example of using `奇迹` to describe survival against all odds.

• “Miracle” vs. “Magic”: This is a critical distinction for English speakers. `奇迹 (qíjì)` is a miracle, an awe-inspiring, real (or believed-to-be-real) event. It is NOT magic.
  • Performance Magic (Tricks): Use 魔术 (móshù).
  • Fantasy Magic (Sorcery): Use 魔法 (mófǎ).
  • *Incorrect:* The magician performed an amazing 奇迹.
  • *Correct:* 魔术师表演了一个很棒的魔术。 (Móshùshī biǎoyǎn le yí ge hěn bàng de móshù.) - The magician performed an amazing magic trick.
• “Miracle” vs. “Coincidence”: `奇迹` implies something of great significance and near impossibility. For a simple, lucky, but less momentous event (like bumping into a friend in another country), the word 巧合 (qiǎohé), meaning “coincidence,” is more appropriate. Using `奇迹` for a small coincidence can sound overly dramatic.
  • *Overly Dramatic:* 我们在同一家咖啡馆，真是个奇迹！ (We're at the same café, it's a miracle!)
  • *More Natural:* 我们在同一家咖啡馆，真巧！ (Wǒmen zài tóng yī jiā kāfēiguǎn, zhēn qiǎo!) - We're at the same café, what a coincidence!

• 神迹 (shénjì) - A divine miracle, an act of God. This term is more explicitly religious and supernatural than `奇迹`.
• 奇观 (qíguān) - A spectacular sight, a wonder (often of nature). Focuses on the visual aspect of something amazing, like the Northern Lights or the Grand Canyon.
• 不可思议 (bùkěsīyì) - An idiom meaning “inconceivable” or “unbelievable.” It's an adjective often used to describe an event that is a `奇迹`.
• 魔术 (móshù) - Magic trick, illusion. The kind of magic performed on a stage.
• 魔法 (mófǎ) - Magic, sorcery, spells. The kind of magic found in fantasy stories like Harry Potter.
• 巧合 (qiǎohé) - Coincidence. A chance encounter or alignment of events that is not as profound as a miracle.
• 创造 (chuàngzào) - To create. Often used with `奇迹` in the phrase `创造奇迹` (to create a miracle).
• 传说 (chuánshuō) - Legend, folklore. A story from the past, which may contain tales of miracles.