About
The character 清 (qīng) is a phono-semantic compound connecting water’s physical properties to the abstract idea of purity. Its structure combines the semantic radical 氵 (shuǐ), meaning water, with the phonetic component 青 (qīng), which represents the color green or blue and suggests youthful freshness. The primary meaning is clear, pure, or unpolluted, directly evoking the transparent state of clean water. This literal sense naturally extended to abstract realms, coming to signify moral integrity, quietude, mental clarity, and the full settlement of debts. The consistent pairing of water with a green/blue phonetic element illustrates how language links a physical substance with an associated quality to express both literal cleanliness and metaphorical integrity.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这条河的水很清澈。
清晨的空气很清新。
请把桌子清理干净。
她说话声音很清晰。
我们今天需要清洁房间。
他保持清醒的头脑。
这道菜的味道很清淡。
清洗蔬菜后要沥干水分。