jīng
adjective #50,342

Meanings

  1. 1 lush; luxuriant; flourishing
  2. 2 the essence; the cream of something
  3. 3 leek flower (literary)

Examples

HSK 7-9
赞美人才培育菁菁向荣
Zhè shǒu shī zànměi réncái péiyù, jīngjīng xiàngróng.
This poem praises the cultivation of talent, lush and thriving.
HSK 7-9
Zhè běn shū huìjí le dàshī sīxiǎng de jīnghuá.
This book gathers the very essence of the master's thought.

Tips

usage
Two main uses: the reduplication 菁菁 ('lush and thriving,' famous from a 诗经 poem about nurturing talent), and 菁华 ('the cream / quintessence,' a variant of 精华).

Components

radical
cǎo
grass; plant (top radical)
Grass radical on top, cap-form of . It originally marked a plant (leek flower) and now extends to lush plant growth and, figuratively, the 'flower' or essence of something. Same family as luxuriant and flower.
phonetic
qīng
blue-green; young; vigorous
Bottom gives the sound (qīng to jīng) and a fitting hint of 'fresh and green vigor.' Same phonetic in essence and clear; note 菁华 mirrors 精华.

Stroke Order

jīng