形而上學

Wasei kango (和製漢語) coined by Inoue Tetsujirō as a translation of English metaphysics, with the 形而上 (xíng'érshàng) part from I Ching:

是故，形而上者謂之道，形而下者謂之器。 [Classical Chinese, trad.][▼ expand/hide]

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是故，形而上者谓之道，形而下者谓之器。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: I Ching, 3^rd – 2^nd millennia BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Shìgù, xíng'érshàng zhě wèi zhī dào, xíng'érxià zhě wèi zhī qì. [Pinyin]

Hence that which is antecedent to the material form exists, we say, as an ideal method, and that which is subsequent to the material form exists, we say, as a definite thing.

形而上學

1. metaphysics (a branch of philosophy)
2. metaphysics (the world outlook and methodology opposed to dialectics)

   堅持唯物辯證法，反對形而上學。 [MSC, trad.]
   坚持唯物辩证法，反对形而上学。 [MSC, simp.]

   Jiānchí wéiwù biànzhèngfǎ, fǎnduì xíng'érshàngxué. [Pinyin]

   Adhere to dialectical materialism and oppose metaphysics.

3. (dated) social science

• 形上 (xíngshàng)
• 玄學／玄学 (xuánxué)

• 形而下學／形而下学
• 辯證法／辩证法 (biànzhèngfǎ)