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March 24, 2026
洁(潔)jié(jie2)
The character 洁 (jié) primarily means 'clean' or 'pure.' It is often used in contexts relating to cleanliness, hygiene, and purity, both in physical and metaphorical senses. For instance, it can describe clean environments or pure intentions.
Strokes9Radical氵Frequency#8067DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, cleanliness is often associated with health and moral purity. The emphasis on hygiene can be seen in traditional practices, such as the importance placed on washing hands and keeping living spaces clean, reflecting societal values of respect and care.
Memory Tip
Imagine a sparkling clean river (水) flowing through a pristine landscape. The character 洁 has the water radical (氵) on the left, symbolizing cleanliness, while the right side (舌) can remind you of tasting something pure and fresh, like a clean drink. The pronunciation 'jié' sounds like 'jet,' evoking the image of a jet stream of clean water.
Meanings of 洁
jié(jie2)
1clean
2clean, pure; to purify, to cleanse
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 洁
洁Simplified
潔Traditional
9Strokes
氵Radical
形容词性语素xíngróngcíadjective root (adj.root)Part of Speech
#8067Frequency Rank
Podcast: 洁
Podcast: 洁
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AI Study Notes for 洁
Quick Contrast
洁 (clean) vs 清 (clear) — choose 洁 when emphasizing cleanliness or purity, while 清 focuses on clarity or transparency.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a sparkling clean river (水) flowing through a pristine landscape. The character 洁 has the water radical (氵) on the left, symbolizing cleanliness, while the right side (舌) can remind you of tasting something pure and fresh, like a clean drink. The pronunciation 'jié' sounds like 'jet,' evoking the image of a jet stream of clean water.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 洁 (jié) with similar-sounding words like 节 (jié), which means 'festival' or 'section.' This word is often used in a formal context, such as in the phrase '洁净' (jié jìng), meaning 'clean and tidy.' Remember to use the correct tone: jié (2nd tone) as opposed to jiè (4th tone) for different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
While 洁 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other cleanliness-related vocabulary like 干净 (gān jìng) meaning 'clean.' Focus on recognizing it in context, especially in phrases related to health and hygiene.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, cleanliness is often associated with health and moral purity. The emphasis on hygiene can be seen in traditional practices, such as the importance placed on washing hands and keeping living spaces clean, reflecting societal values of respect and care.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 洁 (jié) with 洗 (xǐ), which means 'to wash.' For instance, saying '我洁手' (wǒ jié shǒu) instead of '我洗手' (wǒ xǐ shǒu) would be incorrect. Ensure you use 洁 to describe cleanliness rather than the act of washing.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 洁
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Grammar Patterns of 洁
洁 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我会帮你弄弄花园，帮你保持它的整____。
I'll do your garden, I'll keep that tidy for you.
Example Sentences for 洁 (10)
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1
我会帮你弄弄花园，帮你保持它的整洁。
wǒ huì bāng nǐ nòng nòng huā yuán， ， bāng nǐ bǎo chí tā de zhěng。
"Make the punishment fit the crime." How neat and tidy it sounded.
Cultural Notes for 洁
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, cleanliness is often associated with health and moral purity. The emphasis on hygiene can be seen in traditional practices, such as the importance placed on washing hands and keeping living spaces clean, reflecting societal values of respect and care.
