精益求精 (jīngyìqiújīng) · to keep improving

精益求精 (jīngyìqiújīng) means “to keep improving; to strive for perfection”. It is written with 3 characters: 精 (essence) + 益 (to profit) + 求 (to ask (a favor)). It is an old HSK 6 word (HSK 2.0).

How 精益求精 is built

The characters

精 jīng · essence

What 精 is made of

米mǐ — uncooked rice
- 丷ha — kwukyel
  - 丶 — dot
- 木mù — tree
  - 十 — ten
  - 八bā — eight
青qīng — nature's color
- 龶 — top part
- 月yuè — moon; month
  - 冂 — frame
  - 二 — two strokes

Origin hint: 米 gives the meaning, 青 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

益 yì · to profit

What 益 is made of

水shuǐ — water
皿mǐn — dish
- 一 — horizontal stroke

Origin hint: A container 皿 overflowing with water 水 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

求 qiú · to ask (a favor)

What 求 is made of

一 — horizontal stroke
氺shui — structural part
- 亅 — hook

Example sentences

他对自己的作品总是精益求精。Tā duì zìjǐ de zuòpǐn zǒngshì jīngyìqiújīng.He always strives to perfect his work.

我们做产品要精益求精。Wǒmen zuò chǎnpǐn yào jīngyìqiújīng.We should keep improving our products.

Questions about 精益求精

What does 精益求精 mean?

精益求精 (jīngyìqiújīng) means “to keep improving; to strive for perfection”.

How do you pronounce 精益求精?

精益求精 is pronounced jīngyìqiújīng.

Which HSK level is 精益求精?

精益求精 is in Old HSK 6.

Related words

Learn 精益求精 with its group

It is part of Old HSK 6 · Group 100: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.

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