精辟 (jīng pì) — penetrating, incisive

Definition

精辟 means 'penetrating, incisive' and is used almost exclusively for analysis, arguments, or commentary that cuts straight to the point. Stronger and more literary than everyday words like 深刻, and reserved for written/formal praise of insight.

adjective
penetratingincisive

Examples

  • 精辟。
    Tā de fēn xī fēi cháng jīng pì.
    His analysis is very penetrating.
  • 精辟。
    Zhè piān píng lùn xiě dé jīng pì shēn kè.
    This review is written incisively and profoundly.
  • 精辟，。
    Tā de fā yán jīng pì yǒu lì, yíng dé le dà jiā de zhǎng shēng.
    His speech was incisive and powerful, winning everyone's applause.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

精jīngrefined
辟pìpenetrating

精 means refined and 辟 means penetrating, together describing incisive insight.

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 卩卩jiékneeling person
  • 䇂䇂䇂sickle-like tool

The early form of 辟 pairs a kneeling person 卩 with a sickle-like tool 䇂, for administering, regulating, or punishing.

Open 辟 →

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