Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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
Choose the correct answer:
About 粹
粹Simplified
14Strokes
米Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#47671Frequency Rank
Podcast: 粹
Podcast: 粹
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 粹
Quick Contrast
精 (jīng) — use 粹 when emphasizing purity and unadulterated quality, while 精 focuses on refinement and excellence.
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.
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
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 粹 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 米 represents the meaning and 卒 represents the sound.
1The meaning half米 carries the sense.
2The sound half卒 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaygrain
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 粹? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 粹?
Decomposition of 粹
IDS Structure⿰米卒
粹Full Character
=
米Mi3
left
卒cu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 粹?
How to say pure in Chinese
“pure” in Chinese is粹cuì
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.
When to use 粹
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.
粹 or something close to it
精 (jīng) — use 粹 when emphasizing purity and unadulterated quality, while 精 focuses on refinement and excellence.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 粹
粹
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 粹 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
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)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
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.
