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纯真 (chún zhēn) — pure, sincere

Definition

Literary word for 'pure and innocent' — usually describes a child's heart, gaze, or smile. 单纯 is the more common, everyday word for 'simple/pure-minded'.

adjective
puresincere

Examples

  • 纯真，。
    Tā de yǎn shén shì nà me chún zhēn, ràng rén xiǎng qǐ tóng nián.
    Her gaze is so pure that it reminds people of childhood.
  • 纯真，。
    Tā men zhī jiān de yǒu yì fēi cháng chún zhēn, méi yǒu rèn hé sī xīn.
    The friendship between them is very pure, without any selfish motives.
  • 纯真。
    Hái zi de xiào shēng shì shì jiè shàng zuì chún zhēn de shēng yīn.
    Children's laughter is the purest sound in the world.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

纯chúnpure
真zhēntrue

纯 and 真 together give a sense of purity and sincerity.

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 純; 纯 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìthread
Sound part声符shēngfú
屯
屯tún純chún
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 純 pairs 糸 (thread) with 屯 as a sound part; the simplified 纯 is not the form described.

Open 纯 →

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
貝貝bèicowrie; shell
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂈
𠂈𠂈真zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Open 真 →
Appears in
Personality & Traits

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