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结晶 (jié jīng) — (noun) crystal, crystallization (the process or the resulting substance); (verb) to crystallize (form into a crystalline structure); (figurative noun) the fruit, the result (of hard work, labor, etc.)

Definition

Literally 'crystallize', 结晶 is the noun for the crystal itself or the process, and figuratively 'the crystallized result' of effort — closer in meaning to 劳动 (work/labor) than 水果 (edible fruit), and related to but distinct from 水晶 (the gemstone).

noun
crystalcrystallization (the process or the resulting substance)
verb
to crystallize (form into a crystalline structure)(figurative noun) the fruitthe result (of hard work, labor, etc.)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 结晶。
    Shuǐ zài dī wēn xià huì jié jīng chéng bīng.
    Water crystallizes into ice at low temperatures.
  • 结晶。
    Zhè kuài jié jīng fēi cháng chún jìng.
    This crystal is very pure.
  • 结晶。
    Zhè bù xiǎo shuō shì tā shí nián xīn xuè de jié jīng.
    This novel is the crystallization of ten years of his hard work.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

结jiéform
晶jīngcrystal

结 (form) and 晶 (crystal) together mean forming or being a crystal.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 結; 结 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
吉
吉jí結jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 結 pairs 糸 with 吉; 吉 gives the sound, and 糸 relates to the meaning. The simplified 结 is a later shorthand.

Open 结 →

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

晶 is drawn as three suns placed together, giving a picture of bright light.

Open 晶 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Physics & Chemistry

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