Definition
结晶 (jié jīng) refers to the process or result of forming crystals, both literally (as in chemistry) and figuratively (as the outcome of effort). Unlike 水晶 (shuǐ jīng), which is a specific natural mineral (rock crystal), 结晶 is broader — it can mean any crystalline substance or the act of crystallizing. Its figurative use (e.g., 'the crystallization of hard work') is a common metaphor in Chinese.
noun
crystalcrystallization (the process or the resulting substance)
verb
to crystallize (form into a crystalline structure)(figurative noun) the fruitthe result (of hard work, labor, etc.)
Easily confused
- 捷径jié jìngsound-alikeshortcut
- 洁净jié jìngsound-alikeclean, pristine (formal or written style)
Examples
- 结晶。Shuǐ zài dīwēn xià huì jié jīng chéng bīng.Water crystallizes into ice at low temperatures.
- 结晶。Zhè kuài jié jīng fēicháng chúnjìng.This crystal is very pure.
- 结晶。Zhè bù xiǎoshuō shì tā shí nián xīnxuè de jié jīng.This novel is the crystallization of ten years of his hard work.
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