精制 (jīng zhì) — to refine (through careful processing); to make with extra care and precision

Definition

精制 means to refine something by processing it carefully to make it purer or higher-quality (oil, salt, medicine). Compare 精致 (jīngzhì), an adjective meaning 'exquisite / finely made' — same pronunciation, different word.

verb
to refine (through careful processing)to make with extra care and precision
Easily confused

Examples

  • 精制。
    Zhè jiā gōng chǎng zhuān mén jīng zhì shí yòng yóu.
    This factory specializes in refining cooking oil.
  • 精制。
    jīng zhì Guò de yán bǐ pǔ tōng yán gèng chún jìng.
    Refined salt is purer than ordinary salt.
  • 精制。
    Tā men yòng chuán tǒng fāng fǎ jīng zhì yào cái.
    They refine medicinal herbs using traditional methods.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

精jīngrefined; careful
制zhìmake

精 means refined or careful and 制 means make, so it denotes making something with extra care.

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.

The form 制 pairs 朱 (tree) with 刀 (knife), showing the act of cutting a tree.

Open 制 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.