Learn a Chinese Character - 净

1. Character Basics

Radical: 冫/bīng (ice radical)

Stroke Count: 8

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jìng (fourth tone)

3. Meaning

clean, pure, net

4. Common Words

• 干净 (gān jìng) - clean
• 纯净 (chún jìng) - pure, clean
• 洗净 (xǐ jìng) - to wash clean
• 净化 (jìng huà) - to purify
• 净值 (jìng zhí) - net value
• 洁净 (jié jìng) - clean, pure

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Can be used as an adjective, verb, or adverb

Usage Patterns:

• 作为形容词: 干净 (clean); 纯净 (pure)
• 作为动词: 净化 (to purify); 洗净 (to wash clean)
• 作为副词: 净是 (only); 净剩 (only left)
• 与其他字组合: 净值 (net value); 净重 (net weight)

Note: "净" is commonly used in contexts related to cleanliness, purity, and removal of unwanted elements.

6. Cultural Background

Traditional Values: In traditional Chinese culture, "净" (cleanliness) is highly valued as a virtue, representing purity and orderliness.

Religious Significance: In Buddhism and Taoism, the concept of "清净" (qīng jìng - clarity and purity) is important, referring to a state of inner peace and purity.

Daily Life: The emphasis on cleanliness is reflected in Chinese daily life, from personal hygiene to household cleaning practices.

Artistic Expression: In traditional Chinese art, particularly ink painting, the aesthetic of simplicity and留白 (liú bái - negative space) embodies the cultural appreciation for "净".

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

Character Breakdown: The character "净" consists of 冫 (bīng, ice) on the left and 争 (zhēng, compete) on the right. Together, they can be thought of as "competing for clean ice water" or "striving for purity".

Mnemonic Device: Imagine two people competing (争) to get the cleanest ice water (冫).

Word Association: Connect "净" with the common word "干净" (gān jìng - clean) to help remember its meaning and pronunciation.

Sound-Alike Memory: The pronunciation "jìng" rhymes with "静" (jìng, quiet) and "镜" (jìng, mirror), which can help with memorization.