The ancient practice of divination using tortoise shells and yarrow stalks to predict the future; refers more broadly to the act of fortune-telling.

(literary) divination; historically refers to two methods: using tortoise shells, called [[卜|卜|bu3]], and using stalks of the milfoil plant, called [[筮|筮|shi4]]

(literary) to enter into government service for the first time; to take up a post as an official