晰 xī clear
clear; evident
How to remember 晰: 日 sun + 析 to split wood = clear. When the sun comes up, the camper who went to split wood sees bear tracks, and the danger is suddenly clear.
Component breakdown
晰 = 日 sun + 析 to split wood
- 日 sun
- 析 to split wood
When the sun comes up, the camper who went to split wood sees bear tracks, and the danger is suddenly clear.
How it is used
- Bound morpheme 'clear/distinct' - appears essentially only in 清晰 (qīngxī) clear/distinct: 图像清晰 (túxiàng qīngxī) a clear image, 思路清晰 (sīlù qīngxī) clear-headed thinking.
- 清晰 stresses sharp visual/auditory clarity or clear reasoning, vs 清楚 (qīngchu) which is broader and more colloquial. 晰 never stands alone.