精

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 精 (jīng) is composed of two parts: the radical 禾 (hé), which means "rice plant," and the phonetic component 青 (qīng), which means "blue" or "green." The character 精 originally meant "rice that has been hulled and polished," and it was later extended to mean "essence," "spirit," or "energy." In modern Chinese, 精 is used in a variety of contexts, including:- As a noun, 精 means "essence," "spirit," or "energy." For example, the phrase 精力充沛 (jīnglì chōngpèi) means "full of energy."- As an adjective, 精 means "fine," "exquisite," or "excellent." For example, the phrase 精美绝伦 (jīngměi jué lún) means "exquisitely beautiful."- As a verb, 精 means "to refine," "to purify," or "to concentrate." For example, the phrase 精益求精 (jīngyì qiú jīng) means "to strive for perfection."The character 精 is also used in a number of Chinese idioms and proverbs. For example, the idiom 画龙点睛 (huà lóng diǎn jīng) means "to add the finishing touch," and the proverb 一寸光阴一寸金，寸金难买寸光阴 (yī cùn guāngyīn yī cùn jīn, cùn jīn nán mǎi cùn guāngyīn) means "time is precious and should not be wasted."The character 精 is a versatile and important character in the Chinese language. It is used in a wide variety of contexts, and it has a rich history and cultural significance.