净

凈/淨

jìng

争 + 冫

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

jìng (adjective) clean; pure

jìng (adverb) only; merely

jìng (adjective) net (income, profit)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 冫 represents the meaning and 争 represents the sound. Simplified form of 淨.

Semantic: 冫 Phonetic: 争

About

The character 净 and its traditional form 淨 show a clear structural difference: the traditional version uses the water radical 氵, relating to washing, while the simplified form uses the ice radical 冫 alongside the phonetic component 争 (or 爭). Its core meaning describes a state of being completely clean, free from dirt or impurities. Over time, this concept of physical purity expanded to abstract uses, conveying total completeness, indicating an action done entirely, or representing the net value of a figure after deductions.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个房间很干净。

Zhège fángjiān hěn gānjìng.

This room is very clean.

我喜欢喝净水。

Wǒ xǐhuan hē jìngshuǐ.

I like to drink purified water.

她的手很干净。

Tā de shǒu hěn gānjìng.

Her hands are very clean.

空气净化器很有用。

Kōngqì jìnghuàqì hěn yǒuyòng.

The air purifier is very useful.

这箱苹果的净重是十公斤。

Zhè xiāng píngguǒ de jìngzhòng shì shí gōngjīn.

The net weight of this box of apples is ten kilograms.

公司去年的净利润很高。

Gōngsī qùnián de jìnglìrùn hěn gāo.

The company's net profit last year was very high.

他的月净收入超过一万元。

Tā de yuè jìngshōurù chāoguò yī wàn yuán.

His monthly net income exceeds ten thousand yuan.

净化水资源对保护环境至关重要。

Jìnghuà shuǐ zīyuán duì bǎohù huánjìng zhìguān zhòngyào.

Purifying water resources is crucial for protecting the environment.

Related Characters

Component: 争

Component: 冫

净