HSK · Level 65
90 words
Chinese word
精
Pronunciation
Pinyinjīng
Meaning
- nounessence
Example
中药里取其精做汤。zhōng yào lǐ qǔ qí jīng zuò tāng
The essence of the Chinese medicine is extracted to make soup.
More examples
他的演讲抓住了问题的精髓。tā de yán jiǎng zhuā zhù le wèn tí de jīng suǐ
His speech grasped the essence of the problem.
Core concept
The concentrated core that carries a thing's defining quality and greatest value.
Common phrases
精髓jīng suǐ
essence
精华jīng huá
best part
Similar words
本质běn zhì: The basic nature that makes a thing what it is.
精髓jīng suǐ: The central and most valuable element of knowledge, art, or technique.
核心hé xīn: The main point or central part of a matter.
Definition in Chinese
指能代表事物性质或价值的精粹部分，常用来表示提炼出的精华或核心要素。zhǐ néng dài biǎo shì wù xìng zhì huò jià zhí de jīng cuì bù fèn cháng yòng lái biǎo shì tí liàn chū de jīng huá huò hé xīn yào sù
Word origin
精 (jīng, "essence") uses 米 (mǐ, "rice") as its meaning element and 青 (qīng, "blue-green") as its sound element, reflecting an older idea of a refined substance whose finest part remains.
Usage tips
- When translating it, choose a concrete word such as "extract" for a material context and a figurative word such as "core" for an idea, rather than forcing one English equivalent everywhere.
Other meanings
- best partnoun
Opposites
- 糟粕zāo pòdregsnoun
- 渣滓zhā zǐdregsnoun
Related words
- 精髓jīng suǐessencenoun
- 精华jīng huáessencenoun
- 精致jīng zhìexquisiteadjective