Meanings of 潔
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About 潔
Podcast: 潔
Podcast: 潔
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AI Study Notes for 潔
清 (qīng) - use 潔 (jié) when emphasizing moral or spiritual purity, while 清 (qīng) focuses more on physical cleanliness or clarity.
Be careful not to confuse 潔 with similar-sounding characters like 结 (jié, to tie or knot). This character is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but tends to lean towards a more formal usage when discussing moral qualities or spiritual cleanliness. Common collocations include 潔白 (pure white) and 清潔 (clean and tidy).
While 潔 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with words related to cleanliness and purity found in earlier levels. Students should focus on recognizing the character's radicals and its usage in compound words to strengthen their vocabulary.
Learners often mix up 潔 with 结 (jié), which means to tie or knot. Remember that 潔 relates to cleanliness and purity, while 结 is unrelated. For instance, saying '我很洁结' (I am very pure in tying) is incorrect; it should be '我很洁净' (I am very clean).
Pronunciation of 潔
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Etymology of 潔
Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 吉 represents the sound. Simplified form of 潔.
water
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 潔
Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 吉 represents the sound. Simplified form of 潔.
- 1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half絜 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaywater
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 潔? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 潔
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How to say clean, pure; to purify, to cleanse in Chinese
“clean, pure; to purify, to cleanse” in Chinese is潔
The character 潔 (jié) primarily means clean or pure. It is often used in contexts involving cleanliness, purity, or the act of cleansing, such as in reference to one's character or physical cleanliness. The nuance of the word conveys a sense of moral or spiritual purity in addition to physical cleanliness.
When to use 潔
Be careful not to confuse 潔 with similar-sounding characters like 结 (jié, to tie or knot). This character is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but tends to lean towards a more formal usage when discussing moral qualities or spiritual cleanliness. Common collocations include 潔白 (pure white) and 清潔 (clean and tidy).
潔 or something close to it
清 (qīng) - use 潔 (jié) when emphasizing moral or spiritual purity, while 清 (qīng) focuses more on physical cleanliness or clarity.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 潔 with 结 (jié), which means to tie or knot. Remember that 潔 relates to cleanliness and purity, while 结 is unrelated. For instance, saying '我很洁结' (I am very pure in tying) is incorrect; it should be '我很洁净' (I am very clean).
Write 潔
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Practice writing 潔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 潔
Compound Meaning
What does 清洁 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 潔
It is pronounced as 'jié' with a rising tone.
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