Feng Shui Fooey?

[xouper]

From Randi's comment "Feng Shui Fooey" I get the impression he thinks it's pronounced feng SHOO-ee. I had thought it was pronounced "fong shway" which doesn't rhyme with fooey, unless fooey is pronounced "fway". What am I missing here?

 

[BillyJoe]

super,

If they can mispell Evilution, we can mispronounce fong shooee.

billyjoe.

 

[Monketi Ghost]

I always thought it was pronounced Feng Shwee. In which case it would sort of rhyme.

 

[Lavie Enrose]

The Feng Shui Society

Feng Shui pronunciation

The pronunciation of "feng shui" will vary according to regional dialects inside China, of which there are at least 300. Feng Shui will vary considerably in its pronunciation as one moves around China.

However, the two principal pronunciations arise from the dialects known as Cantonese and Mandarin.

The softer/poetic pronunciation arises from Cantonese which is the dialect mainly used in the rural areas of the south and reflects the agricultural applications of feng shui and its astrology in its early days. This pronunciation is "fung shoy".

The harder/dry pronunciation is from Mandarin which is the dialect originally used in the palaces and in the north. This reflects the adoption of feng shui as an official practice used regularly by the emperors. This pronunciation is "foong shway".

Neither of these attempts at pronunciation by the western palette are actually precise, of course. Real Chinese pronunciation requires careful tuition and practice.