粹

cuì

卒 + 米

Definitions

cuì (adjective) pure; unmixed; essence

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 米 represents the meaning and 卒 represents the sound.

Semantic: 米 Phonetic: 卒

About

The character 粹 is a phono-semantic compound. Its semantic component, the rice radical 米 on the left, provides the core meaning, while the phonetic component 卒 on the right indicates the pronunciation. Originally, 粹 described pure, refined grains of rice separated from chaff and impurities. From this agricultural origin, its meaning expanded to encompass abstract purity, essence, or the most refined part of any substance or idea. Today, 粹 commonly denotes unadulterated materials, pure principles, or concentrated essences, having largely moved beyond its literal connection to grain while retaining the structural rice radical.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这纯粹是巧合。

Zhè chún cuì shì qiǎo hé.

This is purely a coincidence.

她有着纯粹的心灵。

Tā yǒu zhe chún cuì de xīn líng.

She has a pure heart.

精粹的总结很有帮助。

Jīng cuì de zǒng jié hěn yǒu bāng zhù.

An essential summary is very helpful.

国粹艺术需要传承。

Guó cuì yì shù xū yào chuán chéng.

National essence arts need to be passed down.

他的观点纯粹基于事实。

Tā de guān diǎn chún cuì jī yú shì shí.

His viewpoint is purely based on facts.

我们需要提取事件的精粹。

Wǒ men xū yào tí qǔ shì jiàn de jīng cuì.

We need to extract the essence of the event.

纯粹的理论往往难以应用。

Chún cuì de lǐ lùn wǎng wǎng nán yǐ yìng yòng.

Pure theory is often difficult to apply.

国粹的保存与推广至关重要。

Guó cuì de bǎo cún yǔ tuī guǎng zhì guān zhòng yào.

The preservation and promotion of national essence are crucial.

Related Characters

Component: 卒

Component: 米

粹