纯 chún pure
pure; clean; simple; genuine; unmixed
How to remember 纯: 纟 silk + 屯 to store = pure. The silk Grandma chose to store in a cedar box fifty years ago comes out still pure and bright.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
纯 = 纟 silk + 屯 to store
- 纟 silk meaning
- 屯 to store sound
The silk Grandma chose to store in a cedar box fifty years ago comes out still pure and bright.
How it came to be
The silk gives the meaning and the sign for storing gives the sound.
How it is used
- Pure/unmixed/genuine: 纯 (chún) = pure: 纯牛奶 pure milk, 纯棉 pure cotton, 纯金 pure gold.
- 单纯 (dānchún) = simple/naive (of a person or situation); 纯洁 (chúnjié) = pure/innocent (morally).
- 纯粹 (chúncuì) = purely/nothing but: 纯粹是浪费时间 it's purely a waste of time.
- 纯朴 (chúnpǔ) = simple and honest (of character).