‘脚气’ (jiǎo qì) literally means ‘foot qi’—a traditional term that historically referred to various foot-related ailments, but in modern standard Mandarin it specifically denotes athlete’s foot, a common fungal infection affecting the skin between toes or soles. Though the character ‘气’ (qì) usually means ‘air’, ‘energy’, or ‘vital force’, here it functions as a nominal suffix indicating a condition or disorder—similar to how ‘-itis’ works in English medical terms.

This word is used exclusively in colloquial and clinical health contexts; it’s not related to the historical ‘beriberi’ (also once called ‘jiǎo qì’ in older texts), which is a vitamin B1 deficiency. Today, doctors, pharmacists, and patients all use ‘脚气’ to refer to tinea pedis. It’s commonly discussed alongside treatments like antifungal creams, keeping feet dry, and avoiding shared footwear or towels.