粋 means “chic, pure, essence”

いき · iki

Also: style, purity

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

いき

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

スイ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 10 strokes

The story

Rice (米) polished down to its pure core: the essence. 純粋 is pure, a 抜粋 an excerpt of the best part, and 粋, read いき, is the chic, worldly style Edo townspeople prized: understated stripes, never showy.

Used in 粋 (iki, chic/stylish), 純粋 (junsui, pure), and 抜粋 (bassui, excerpt)

More from Grace & Beauty

• 醜 ugly
• 艶 luster
• 貌 appearance
• 態 attitude
• 姿 figure
• 華 splendor
• 妙 exquisite
• 柄 pattern
• 趣 taste
• 雅 elegance
• 飾 decorate
• 魅 charm

Learn 粋 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.