純

Phono-semantic compound:

糸 (실 사, “thread, fiber”) — semantic, indicates thread/fiber.

屯 (진칠 둔, “to station, gather”) — phonetic, and in early forms also carried the sense of “pure.”

Originally meant “undyed, natural thread”, i.e. thread in its pure state.

純粹 (순수) — pure, genuine

單純 (단순) — simple, plain

純情 (순정) — pure-hearted, innocent

純金 (순금) — pure gold

純潔 (순결) — purity, chastity

Rare, obsolete readings: 가선 준, 묶을 돈, 온전할 전, 검은 비단 치 — but today only “순수할 순” is used.

Easily confused with 順 (순할 순, “obedient, to follow”), since both share the reading “순.”

In Korean naming tradition, 純 is sometimes used as a generational name element (e.g. Andong Gwon clan 37th generation).