Page "Yuanfen" Paragraph 15

Often yuánfèn is said to be the equivalent of " fate " ( as is with the title of a 1984 movie, given the western name Behind the Yellow Line, starring Leslie Cheung ) or " destiny ".

However, these words do not have the element of the past playing a role in deciding the outcome of the uncertain future.

The most common Chinese term for " fate " or " destiny " is mìngyùn ( 命運 ), literally " the turn of events in life ".