In Chinese culture, fortune is rarely seen as random or fixed. It is a cyclical and predictable force that can be analyzed and even influenced. The concept of 运势 (yùnshì) is central to this worldview. Every Chinese New Year, tens of millions of people check their annual 运势 based on their Chinese Zodiac sign (生肖, shēngxiào). This is far more detailed than a simple newspaper horoscope. It often includes predictions for wealth (`财运`, cáiyùn), career (`事业运`, shìyèyùn), and love life (`桃花运`, táohuāyùn) for the entire year. This contrasts with the Western concept of “luck” or a “horoscope.” A Western horoscope often provides daily, specific, and sometimes vague advice (“You will have a productive conversation today”). 运势, on the other hand, describes the broader energetic landscape. It's less about *what* will happen and more about the *favorable or unfavorable conditions* for certain life areas. For example, a good career 运势 doesn't guarantee a promotion, but it suggests that your efforts in that area are more likely to be successful. This belief is tied to practices like:
Despite its ancient roots, 运势 is a highly relevant concept in modern China.
The term itself is neutral. It's the adjectives used with it that give it a positive or negative connotation: `运势好` (hǎo - good), `运势旺` (wàng - prosperous), `运势不佳` (bù jiā - not good), `运势很差` (hěn chà - very bad).
The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing 运势 (yùnshì) with 运气 (yùnqì).
Think of it this way:
Incorrect Usage:
Incorrect Usage: