‘Pí qì’ literally combines ‘pí’ (spleen) — an organ traditionally associated in Chinese medicine with thought, worry, and emotional regulation — and ‘qì’ (vital energy or breath). Though modern physiology doesn’t link the spleen directly to mood, the term endures as a culturally rich way to describe a person’s inherent emotional temperament: how easily they become angry, how patient or irritable they are, or their general emotional responsiveness. It reflects both stable personality traits and momentary emotional reactions.

‘Pí qì’ is commonly used in everyday speech to comment on someone’s emotional style — for example, praising someone’s calmness (好脾气) or criticizing outbursts (脾气太差). It often appears in phrases like ‘发脾气’ (to lose one’s temper) or ‘脾气好/坏’ (good/bad temper). Unlike clinical terms like ‘emotion’ or ‘mood’, ‘pí qì’ carries a holistic, embodied sense of character shaped by physical, mental, and social factors.