清 qīng — clear; distinct; complete; pure
河水很清，能看见水底的石头。Hé shuǐ hěn qīng, néng kàn jiàn shuǐ dǐ de shí tou.The river water is so clear you can see the stones at the bottom.
Common words: 清楚 (qīng chu)、清醒 (qīng xǐng)、清理 (qīng lǐ)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "pure"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "pure", including 清 (qīng), 纯 (chún), 粹 (cuì). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "pure" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 清 (qīng), 纯 (chún), 粹 (cuì) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span qīng, chún, cuì — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 清 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 清 qīngclear; distinct; complete; pureUseful words: 清楚, 清醒
- 纯 chúnpure; simple; unmixed; genuineUseful words: 单纯, 纯净水
- 粹 cuìpure; unmixed; essenceUseful words: 纯粹, 国粹
Common words for these 3 "pure" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 清 (qīng) — so "pure" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
清楚qīng chuclear; distinct; to understand thoroughly; to be clear about清醒qīng xǐngclear-headed; sober; awake清理qīng lǐto clear up; to tidy up; to dispose of单纯dān chúnsimple; pure; unsophisticated; merely纯净水chún jìng shuǐpurified water纯粹chún cuìpure; unadulterated; purely; completely纯粹chún cuìpure; unadulterated; purely; completely国粹guó cuìnational essence; quintessence of national culture精粹jīng cuìsuccinct; pure and concise
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "pure".
纯 chún — pure; simple; unmixed; genuine
这块布料是纯棉做的。Zhè kuài bù liào shì chún mián zuò de.This fabric is made of pure cotton.
Common words: 单纯 (dān chún)、纯净水 (chún jìng shuǐ)、纯粹 (chún cuì)
粹 cuì — pure; unmixed; essence
京剧是中国的国粹。Jīng jù shì Zhōng guó de guó cuì.Peking opera is a quintessence of Chinese culture.
Common words: 纯粹 (chún cuì)、国粹 (guó cuì)、精粹 (jīng cuì)
All 3 characters
Open 清、纯、粹 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.