‘Hé qì’ literally combines ‘hé’ (harmony, peace) and ‘qì’ (spirit, air, or atmosphere), together meaning an amicable, gentle, and warm manner in interpersonal interactions. It describes a person’s pleasant, non-confrontational demeanor—especially in social or professional settings—and reflects traditional Chinese values of harmony and respect.

This word is often used to praise someone’s friendly attitude, especially when they remain calm and courteous despite disagreement or difficulty. It functions as a noun (e.g., ‘保持和气’ — ‘maintain amicability’) and occasionally as a predicate adjective (e.g., ‘他待人很和气’ — ‘He treats people very amicably’). Unlike adjectives like ‘友好’ (friendly), ‘和气’ emphasizes inner composure and outward gentleness rather than just goodwill or sociability.