干净 (乾淨 in traditional form – gānjìng), meaning “clean,” has a structure that reflects the act of cleansing and purifying.

Here’s a breakdown of its components:

• 氵 (shuǐ): This radical, representing “water,” is often found in characters related to liquids or the act of washing. This is fitting, as water is essential for cleaning and purification.
• 干 (gān): This component means “dry” or “to dry.” It originally depicted a piece of wood or a tool used for drying, symbolizing the removal of moisture.

Combining these elements, 干净 creates a picture of using water to cleanse and then drying to achieve a state of cleanliness. This emphasizes the process of removing dirt or impurities and achieving a state of purity.

Over time, the meaning of 干净 has expanded beyond physical cleanliness:

• Clean: This is the most common meaning, referring to something free from dirt, stains, or impurities.
• Neat: This implies tidiness and orderliness, often associated with cleanliness.
• Pure: This suggests a state of being free from moral corruption or negative influences.
• Completely: This meaning, often used in phrases like “吃干净” (chī gānjìng – to eat everything), emphasizes the thoroughness or completeness of an action.

The character 干净 is used in various contexts related to cleanliness and purity:

• 干净的房间 (gānjìng de fángjiān): Clean room
• 干净的水 (gānjìng de shuǐ): Clean water
• 心里干净 (xīnlǐ gānjìng): Pure of heart

By understanding the origins of 干净, we can appreciate its connection to the act of cleansing and achieving a state of purity, both physically and metaphorically. It reflects the importance of cleanliness and order in Chinese culture and the broader human desire for a pure and unblemished state.

Questions

What does 干净 (gānjìng) mean?
a) Dirty
b) Messy
c) Clean
d) Wet

Which component in 干净 (gānjìng) means “water”?
a) 氵 (shuǐ)
b) 干 (gān)
c) Both a and b
d) Neither a nor b

What was the original meaning of 干 (gān) based on its structure?
a) To wash
b) To dry
c) To sweep
d) To scrub

Which phrase means “clean room”?
a) 干净的房间 (gānjìng de fángjiān)
b) 脏房间 (zāng fángjiān)
c) 卧室 (wòshì)
d) 客厅 (kètīng)

Which sentence correctly uses 干净 (gānjìng)?
a) 我的房间很干净。(Wǒ de fángjiān hěn gānjìng.) – My room is very clean.
b) 请把桌子擦干净。(Qǐng bǎ zhuōzi cā gānjìng.) – Please wipe the table clean.
c) 他洗了个澡，感觉很干净。(Tā xǐ le gè zǎo, gǎnjué hěn gānjìng.) – He took a shower and felt clean.
d) All of the above.

Which character in 干净 (gānjìng) also appears in the word “干杯” (gānbēi)?
a) 氵 (shuǐ)
b) 干 (gān)
c) Both a and b
d) Neither a nor b

What might the “water” and “dry” components in 干净 (gānjìng) symbolize?
a) The process of washing and drying to achieve cleanliness
b) The contrast between wet and dry states
c) The importance of both water and dryness in daily life
d) The beauty of nature

In addition to physical cleanliness, what other meaning can 干净 (gānjìng) convey?
a) Hungry
b) Tired
c) Pure
d) Angry

Which sentence uses 干净 (gānjìng) to mean “completely”?
a) 我把作业做干净了。(Wǒ bǎ zuòyè zuò gānjìng le.) – I finished my homework completely.
b) 这件衣服很干净。(Zhè jiàn yīfu hěn gānjìng.) – This dress is very clean.
c) 他的房间乱七八糟。(Tā de fángjiān luànqībāzāo.) – His room is messy.
d) 我今天很累。(Wǒ jīntiān hěn lèi.) – I am very tired today.

In the sentence “他的手很干净” (Tā de shǒu hěn gānjìng – His hands are very clean), what does 干净 mean?
a) Dirty
b) Soft
c) Clean
d) Strong