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純 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
純chúnpure, clean; simple, genuinezg, 10 strokes, radical 糹
chún(chun2) T2
  1. 1pure, clean; simple, genuine
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March 24, 2026

純chún(chun2)

The character 純 (chún) means pure, clean, or genuine. It is often used to describe the quality of something that is untainted or simple in nature, such as pure water or genuine emotions. This word can be used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, emphasizing authenticity and clarity.

Strokes10Radical糹
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, purity is often associated with nature and simplicity, reflecting the values of harmony and balance. The concept of purity is also significant in traditional Chinese medicine, where pure ingredients are preferred for health.

Memory Tip

Imagine a pure stream of water flowing smoothly. The character 純 looks like a stream (the left part, 糸, represents threads or connections) flowing into a clean space (the right part, 須, suggests something essential or vital). Think of 'chún' as a 'clean' sound, representing purity.

Meanings of 純

chún(chun2)
1pure, clean; simple, genuine
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 純 means.

About 純

純Simplified
10Strokes
糹Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 純

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Podcast: 純

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AI Study Notes for 純

Quick Contrast

清 (qīng) vs 純 (chún): use 清 for clarity or cleanliness in a physical or metaphorical sense, while 純 emphasizes purity and genuineness.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 純 with other similar-sounding words like 纯粹 (chúncuì), which also means pure but has a more philosophical connotation. 純 is more commonly used in everyday language. It's typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure the tone is light when discussing personal emotions.

HSK Study Tips

While 純 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects well with other HSK words related to quality and authenticity, such as 真 (zhēn, true) and 清 (qīng, clear). Focus on using it in sentences that emphasize purity and genuineness.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 純 with 纯, forgetting that 純 has a more traditional form and is less commonly used in modern simplified contexts. For example, saying '我想喝純水' is incorrect; it should be '我想喝纯水' to mean 'I want to drink pure water.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 純

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Etymology of 純

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 屯 represents the sound. Simplified form of 純.

Memory Hint

silk

Semantic (meaning)糹
+
Phonetic (sound)屯
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

純 = 糹 + 屯. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 純

IDS Structure⿰糹屯
純Full Character
=
糹si1
left
屯tun2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 純?

How to say pure, clean; simple, genuine in Chinese

“pure, clean; simple, genuine” in Chinese is純chún

The character 純 (chún) means pure, clean, or genuine. It is often used to describe the quality of something that is untainted or simple in nature, such as pure water or genuine emotions. This word can be used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, emphasizing authenticity and clarity.

When to use 純

Be careful not to confuse 純 with other similar-sounding words like 纯粹 (chúncuì), which also means pure but has a more philosophical connotation. 純 is more commonly used in everyday language. It's typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure the tone is light when discussing personal emotions.

純 or something close to it

清 (qīng) vs 純 (chún): use 清 for clarity or cleanliness in a physical or metaphorical sense, while 純 emphasizes purity and genuineness.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 純 with 纯, forgetting that 純 has a more traditional form and is less commonly used in modern simplified contexts. For example, saying '我想喝純水' is incorrect; it should be '我想喝纯水' to mean 'I want to drink pure water.'

Write 純

純

Practice writing 純 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 純

Words Containing This Character20
纯chúnpure純
单纯dānchúnsimple單純
纯粹chúncuìpure純粹
纯洁chúnjiépure純潔
纯属to be purely純屬
纯净pure純淨
纯真innocent and unaffected純真
纯正pure純正
纯度purity純度
清纯fresh and pure清純
纯种purebred純種
纯情a pure heart純情
纯金pure gold純金
纯朴chúnpǔsimple and honest純樸
小泉纯一郎KOIZUMI Jun'ichirō (1942-), Japanese LDP politician, prime minister 2001-2006小泉純一郎
纯白pure white純白
提纯to purify提純
炉火纯青fig. (of an art, a technique etc) brought to the point of perfection爐火純青
纯熟skillful純熟
纯利net profit純利
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 純

What does 纯 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 純

Yes, 純 is commonly used in both casual and formal conversations, especially when referring to things that are authentic or untainted.

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