Meaning
精 clusters its meanings around one central idea: refinement. Whether the subject is physical matter, mental energy, or skill, 精 describes something that has been purified, distilled, or brought to peak quality. In modern Japanese, it appears most often in words for spirit and mental energy (精神, 精力), precision (精密, 精巧), and devoted effort (精進).
Structurally, 精 breaks into two parts: the radical 米 (rice, こめ) on the left, and 青 (blue, pure) on the right. In ancient China and Japan, polishing raw rice was itself an act of purification — coarse grain worked into something clean and refined. 青 contributes its own sense of freshness. Together the two components describe exactly that process: something raw, brought to its essence.
At 14 strokes, 精 is taught in grade 6. Its meanings are abstract enough that it shows up most in academic, literary, and formal writing — exactly the register N2 learners are expected to handle.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
セイ (sei) is the dominant on'yomi — far more frequent than ショウ — and appears in most compounds relating to spirit, precision, and vitality.
精神 (seishin) — spirit, mind, mentality
精力 (seiryoku) — energy, vitality, vigor
精密 (seimitsu) — precision, accuracy, minute detail
精巧 (seikou) — elaborate, skillfully crafted, exquisite
精通 (seitsū) — being well-versed in, thorough knowledge of ショウ (shō) covers a smaller, distinct set of words — many rooted in Buddhist practice and traditional culture.
精進 (shōjin) — devotion, diligence, ascetic practice; also refers to vegetarian Buddhist cuisine
精霊 (shōryō) — spirit of the deceased, soul (especially in Obon contexts)
不精 (bushō) — laziness, sloth, indolence
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
くわ.しい (kuwashii) means "detailed, knowledgeable, well-informed." The usual written form is 詳しい, but 精しい appears in literary and classical texts, with an emphasis on deep, refined understanding rather than surface familiarity.
- 精しい (kuwashii) — detailed, knowledgeable, well-versed
しら.げる (shirageru) means "to hull rice, to refine grain." Rare in modern speech, it traces directly back to the kanji's origin: the physical act of polishing rice that gave 精 all its abstract meanings.
- 精げる (shirageru) — to hull, to polish (grain)
Common Words & Compounds
精 appears across several domains of vocabulary. The compounds below are grouped thematically.
Mind & Spirit
- 精神 (seishin) — spirit, mind, psyche
- 精神的 (seishinteki) — mental, psychological, spiritual
- 精霊 (shōryō) — soul, spirit (ancestral)
Energy & Vitality
- 精力 (seiryoku) — energy, vitality
- 精力的 (seiryokuteki) — energetic, vigorous
- 精気 (seiki) — life force, vital energy
Precision & Skill
- 精密 (seimitsu) — precision, exactness
- 精巧 (seikou) — elaborate craftsmanship, exquisite
- 精度 (seido) — accuracy, degree of precision
Effort & Dedication
- 精進 (shōjin) — diligence, devotion, ascetic effort
- 精出す (seidasu) — to work hard, to apply oneself
- 不精 (bushō) — laziness, being indolent
Biology & Science
- 精子 (seishi) — sperm, spermatozoon
- 精細胞 (seisaibō) — sperm cell
- 受精 (jusei) — fertilization
Example Sentences
彼は精神的に強い人だ。
Kare wa seishinteki ni tsuyoi hito da.
He is a mentally strong person.
毎日精力的に働いている。
Mainichi seiryokuteki ni hataraite iru.
I work energetically every day.
この機械は精密な部品でできている。
Kono kikai wa seimitsu na buhin de dekite iru.
This machine is built from precision components.
職人が精巧な工芸品を作った。
Shokunin ga seikou na kōgeihin wo tsukutta.
The craftsman created an exquisite piece of handiwork.
日本語の勉強に精を出しています。
Nihongo no benkyou ni sei wo dashite imasu.
I am putting my full effort into studying Japanese.
彼女はスポーツの指導に精通している。
Kanojo wa supōtsu no shidou ni seitsū shite iru.
She is thoroughly knowledgeable about sports coaching.
お盆には先祖の精霊を迎える。
Obon ni wa senzo no shōryō wo mukaeru.
During Obon, we welcome the spirits of our ancestors.
精神の健康は体の健康と同じくらい大切だ。
Seishin no kenkou wa karada no kenkou to onaji kurai taisetsu da.
Mental health is just as important as physical health.
受精から誕生まで約９ヶ月かかる。
Jusei kara tanjou made yaku kyuu kagetsu kakaru.
It takes about nine months from fertilization to birth.
彼は料理の腕を上げようと精進している。
Kare wa ryouri no ude wo ageyou to shōjin shite iru.
He is devoting himself to improving his cooking skills.
Memory Tip
Picture someone polishing rice (米) grain by grain until it gleams white-blue (青). That slow, exacting work demands concentration, energy, and care — everything 精 means: purity, spirit, effort, detail.
For Vietnamese learners: the Hán-Việt reading TINH maps onto words you already know. Tinh thần (spirit), tinh tế (refined), tinh lực (vitality) — the kanji and the sound click into place together.