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精湛 (jīng zhàn) — consummate, exquisite

Definition

精湛 modifies a SKILL or TECHNIQUE (技艺、手艺) to mean mastered to the highest degree. Among the 精– family, 精细 refers to delicate objects; 精妙/精巧 suit design and craft more than human ability.

adjective
consummateexquisite

Examples

  • 精湛。
    Zhè wèi diāo kè jiā de jīng zhàn jì yì ràng rén tàn wéi guān zhǐ.
    This sculptor's consummate skill is breathtaking.
  • 精湛，。
    Tā de shū fǎ zuò pǐn bǐ fǎ jīng zhàn, kān chēng yì jué.
    Her calligraphy work has exquisite brushwork, truly unparalleled.
  • 精湛，。
    Zhè tào chá jù zuò gōng jīng zhàn, jià gé bù fěi.
    This tea set is exquisitely made and expensive.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

精jīngrefined
湛zhàndeep

精 (refined) and 湛 (deep) together describe skill that is refined and profound.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng精jīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

精 pairs 米 (rice) with 青, which gives the sound; the character originally meant polished rice.

Open 精 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
甚
甚shèn湛zhàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 氵 is water; the right part 甚 gives the sound shèn.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Good & Bad

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