Definitions

chún alcohol; wine with high alcohol content; rich; pure; good wine; sterols
chún old variant of 醇[chún]

Etymology

Wine  fit to be savored 

About

The character "醇" is structured as a phono-semantic compound, combining the radical "酉", which denotes associations with wine or fermentation, with the component "享" that historically provided a phonetic clue. Its earliest meanings were anchored in the description of rich, undiluted wine, conveying a sense of concentrated strength and purity. This foundational concept gradually extended to signify any substance in a pure, unmixed state, broadening its application beyond the realm of libations. In more recent times, the term has been adopted within scientific discourse to specifically designate the class of organic compounds known as alcohols, marking a return to a precise, material definition after a period of more abstract usage. Throughout this semantic journey, the character's graphical form has remained largely unchanged.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这杯牛奶非常香

Zhè bēi niúnǎi fēichāng xiāngchún.

This glass of milk is very fragrant and mellow.

这种蜂蜜味道很厚。

Zhè zhǒng fēngmì wèidào hěn chúnhòu.

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

酒体和,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,这酒更加香。

Jīngguò chénniàng, zhè jiǔ gèngjiā chúnxiāng.

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

他为人朴,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正。

Suìyuè de chéndiàn ràng tā sīxiǎng gèng chúnzhèng.

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