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March 24, 2026
粹cuì(cui4)
The character 粹 (cuì) conveys the idea of purity and unadulterated quality. It is often used to describe something in its most refined or essential state, such as pure ingredients in cooking or the essence of a concept. In various contexts, it emphasizes the absence of impurities or mixtures.
Strokes14Radical米Frequency#47671DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine, the concept of purity is paramount, especially in the selection of ingredients and herbal remedies, where the essence of each component is believed to contribute to overall health.
Memory Tip
Imagine a clear, sparkling stream (the character's form suggests clarity) representing pure water, which is untainted and refreshing. The 'cu' in cuì sounds like 'cue,' and you can think of it as a cue to find the essence of things in life, stripping away the unnecessary.
Meanings of 粹
cuì(cui4)
1pure
2unmixed
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 粹
粹Simplified
14Strokes
米Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#47671Frequency Rank
Podcast: 粹
Podcast: 粹
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AI Study Notes for 粹
Quick Contrast
精 (jīng) — use 粹 when emphasizing purity and unadulterated quality, while 精 focuses on refinement and excellence.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a clear, sparkling stream (the character's form suggests clarity) representing pure water, which is untainted and refreshing. The 'cu' in cuì sounds like 'cue,' and you can think of it as a cue to find the essence of things in life, stripping away the unnecessary.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 粹 with similar-sounding words. It's important to remember that 粹 is used in formal contexts more often than informal ones. Common collocations include '精粹' (jīngcuì) meaning 'essence' or 'refinement,' which emphasizes quality.
HSK Study Tips
Although 粹 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, students can relate it to other words describing purity and quality at the same level. Focus on understanding the contexts where it signifies essence, as it will enhance your comprehension of refined concepts in Mandarin.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine, the concept of purity is paramount, especially in the selection of ingredients and herbal remedies, where the essence of each component is believed to contribute to overall health.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 粹 with 纯 (chún), which also means 'pure', but lacks the nuance of essence. For example, saying '这道菜很纯' (This dish is very pure) instead of '这道菜很粹' can lead to misunderstandings about quality.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 粹
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Grammar Patterns of 粹
粹 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他对大自然怀有一种极为纯____的乌托邦式看法。
His was a utopian vision of nature in its purest form.
Example Sentences for 粹 (10)
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1
他对大自然怀有一种极为纯粹的乌托邦式看法。
tā duì dà zì rán huái yǒu yī zhǒng jí wéi chún cuì de wū tuō bāng shì kàn fǎ。
His was a utopian vision of nature in its purest form.
tā shuō tā zāo dào ǎi xiǎo de lǜ zhǒng rén bǎng jià, , zhè chún cuì shì wú jī zhī.
His story of being kidnapped by little green men was sheer absurdity.
10
如果阿瑟是被这种疗法的前景吸引到此，那么约翰则纯粹是为了赚钱而来。
rú guǒ ā sè shì bèi zhè zhǒng liáo fǎ de qián jǐng xī yǐn dào cǐ， ， nà mó yuē hàn zé chún cuì shì wéi le zhuàn qián ér。
If Arthur was attracted here by the prospects of therapy, John came down purely and simply to make money.
Cultural Notes for 粹
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine, the concept of purity is paramount, especially in the selection of ingredients and herbal remedies, where the essence of each component is believed to contribute to overall health.
Word Family of 粹
Words Containing This Character6
纯粹chúncuìpure純粹
纳粹Nazi (loanword)納粹
粹cuìpure
精粹succinct
纳粹党Nazi Party納粹黨
民粹派the Narodniks, Russian populist group in the 19th century
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 纯粹 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 粹
Common phrases include '精粹' (jīngcuì) meaning 'essence' and '纯粹' (chúncuì) meaning 'pure'.
It is pronounced as 'cuì', with a falling tone.
While it primarily describes objects or concepts, it can metaphorically describe a person's purity of character.
