醇

醕

chún

享 + 酉

Definitions

chún alcohol; wine with high alcohol content; rich; pure; good wine; sterols

chún old variant of 醇[chún]

Etymology

Wine 酉 fit to be savored 享

About

醇 is a phono-semantic compound combining 酉 and 享. The 酉 radical, a pictograph of an ancient wine vessel, marks the character's domain of alcohol, fermentation, and spirits. The phonetic component 享 (to offer sacrifices or enjoy a feast) also echoes the notion of high-quality wine fit to be savored. Originally, 醇 referred to pure, unadulterated, richly flavored liquor that had been properly fermented and aged. From this literal sense, it extended metaphorically to anything pure, unmixed, or rich in quality, describing human character, customs, cultural atmospheres, and, in modern terminology, alcohols as chemical compounds.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这杯牛奶非常香醇。

Zhè bēi niúnǎi fēichāng xiāngchún.

This glass of milk is very fragrant and mellow.

这种蜂蜜味道很醇厚。

Zhè zhǒng fēngmì wèidào hěn chúnhòu.

This type of honey has a very mellow and thick flavor.

酒体醇和，入口柔顺。

Jiǔtǐ chúnhé, rùkǒu róushùn.

The wine body is mellow and harmonious, soft and smooth on the palate.

他品了一口醇美的红酒。

Tā pǐn le yī kǒu chúnměi de hóngjiǔ.

He tasted a mouthful of the exquisite red wine.

经过陈酿，这酒更加醇香。

Jīngguò chénniàng, zhè jiǔ gèngjiā chúnxiāng.

After aging, this wine has become more mellow and aromatic.

他为人醇朴，深受大家喜爱。

Tā wéirén chúnpǔ, shēn shòu dàjiā xǐ'ài.

He is sincere and simple, deeply loved by everyone.

艺术家追求技艺的醇熟境界。

Yìshùjiā zhuīqiú jìyì de chúnshú jìngjiè.

The artist pursues a realm of pure mastery in skill.

岁月的沉淀让他思想更醇正。

Suìyuè de chéndiàn ràng tā sīxiǎng gèng chúnzhèng.

The precipitation of time has made his thoughts more pure and upright.

Related Characters

Component: 享

Component: 酉

醇