精

Phono-semantic compound:

米 (rice) – semantic component, representing grain/rice (indicating refinement or processing);

靑 (blue/green, clear) – phonetic component, giving the jīng / 정 sound.

Original meaning:

To “polish rice” or the refined rice itself (white rice with the husk removed).

From this idea of refinement came the sense of purity and essence.

Later developments:

精 broadened to mean 精製하다 (to refine), 精密하다 (meticulous, precise), and 정신 (精神 – mind/spirit). Also refers to 精子 (sperm), as the “refined essence” of life.

精製 – refining, purifying;

精氣 – vital energy, spirit;

精密 – precise;

精神 – spirit/mind.

Also has the old native Korean gloss 쓿다, meaning “to polish rice (remove husks)” – i.e. “쌀을 정하다/도정하다.”