汁

Phono-semantic compound consisting of:

水 (물 수) — semantic component, signifying water or liquid.

十 (열 십) — phonetic component, giving the sound zhí / jip.

In Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字), Xu Shen defines:

「汁，水滲出也。从水十聲。」

“汁 means water that seeps out; composed of 水 (water) and the sound 十.”

Thus, the earliest meaning is “exuding liquid,” particularly from plants, flesh, or fruits.

汁 (즙) — juice; extract

果汁 (과즙) — fruit juice

肉汁 (육즙) — meat juice, gravy

湯汁 (탕즙) — soup broth, liquid extract

藥汁 (약즙) — medicinal decoction

汁液 (즙액) — sap, secretion

汁水 (즙수) — fluids, watery substance

In Japanese usage, 汁 (shiru) can mean “broth” or “soup” (e.g., 味噌汁, “miso soup”).

In Korean, however, the meaning is narrower — typically “juice” or “extract,” as in 사과즙 (apple juice) or 한약즙 (herbal extract).

In ancient texts, 汁 often appears in medical and botanical contexts, referring to natural exudates or sap:

In the Shennong Bencao Jing (神農本草經), “草木之汁，可以養生” — “the juices of herbs and trees may sustain life.”

In Liji (禮記·內則), the term refers to meat juice used in ancestral offerings: “獻其血與汁以祭.”

In classical Chinese medicine, 汁 further extends to denote bodily fluids (津液), one of the fundamental substances maintaining balance within the body.

In modern usage, 汁 appears in brand transliterations (e.g., “미닛메이드 주스” (Minute Maid Juice) rendered as 果汁飲料) and retains its simple semantic core of “liquid essence extracted from something.”

Thus, 汁 carries a continuity of meaning from ancient times — the notion of life-giving liquid, whether as plant sap, body fluid, or nourishing broth — embodying the vital connection between moisture and vitality.