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JLPT N211画 · 11 strokesradical 米grade 5freq #540

fine, spirit, energy, refinement

On'yomi (音読み)

  • セイ
  • ショウ

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • せい.
  • しょう.

Mnemonic

The fine grains of rice (米) glow with energy (青), embodying the spirit of refinement as they nourish both body and soul.

About this kanji

The kanji 精 primarily means fine, spirit, or energy, and it often appears in both nouns and adjectives. You might see it in compounds like 精神 (せいしん), which means spirit or mind, conveying a sense of inner energy or mental state. Another example is 精密 (せいみつ), meaning precise, often used to describe detailed and accurate work, such as in engineering or art. 精華 (せいか) translates to essence, referring to the most important or valuable part of something. It’s worth noting that 精 is often used in contexts relating to refinement or quality, highlighting its association with both energy and precision.

Built from

Example sentences

  • 精密な機械が必要だ。

    Precise machinery is needed.

Meanings across languages

English
fine, spirit, energy, refinement
Tiếng Việt
tinh chế, tinh thần, năng lượng
日本語
精度, 精神, 精製
한국어
고급, 정신, 에너지, 정제
中文
细腻, 精神, 能量, 精炼
id
halus, jiwa, energi, penyempurnaan
th
ละเอียด, จิตวิญญาณ, พลัง, การกลั่น
es
fino, espíritu, energía, refinamiento
fr
fin, esprit, énergie, raffinement
de
fein, Geist, Energie, Verfeinerung
pt
fino, espírito, energia, refino

Common compounds

  • 精神せいしんspirit, mind, soul
  • 精密せいみつprecise, accurate
  • 精華せいかessence, flower, best part
  • 精製せいせいrefinement, purification

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