神しん髄ずい

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Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

essence; quintessence; spirit; soul; heart; pith

Refers to the deepest, most fundamental nature or core of something, often used in abstract or philosophical contexts. Can be applied to arts, teachings, or the true character of a person.

彼かれの言こと葉ばには日に本ほん文ぶん化かの真しん髄ずいが表あらわれている。
His words express the essence of Japanese culture.
この教おしえの神しん髄ずいを理り解かいするのは難むずかしい。
It is difficult to grasp the quintessence of this teaching.

See all 18 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉の真しん髄ずいを極きわめるto master the true essence of something
茶さ道どうの真しん髄ずいを極きわめるには何なん十じゅう年ねんもかかる。
It takes decades to master the true essence of the tea ceremony.
〈事こと〉の真しん髄ずいに触ふれるto touch upon the essence of something
彼かれの講こう義ぎで哲てつ学がくの真しん髄ずいに触ふれることができた。
Through his lecture, I was able to touch the essence of philosophy.
〈事こと〉の真しん髄ずいをつかむto grasp the essence of something
長なが年ねんの修しゅ行ぎょうを通つうして剣けん道どうの真しん髄ずいをつかんだ。
Through years of training, he grasped the true essence of kendo.
〈事こと〉の真しん髄ずいを伝つたえるto convey the essence of something
この本ほんは日に本ほん文ぶん化かの真しん髄ずいを伝つたえている。
This book conveys the true essence of Japanese culture.

Kanji

真true, reality, Buddhist sect
髄marrow, pith, essence
神gods, mind, soul

Related words

本ほん質しつN1
本質 is the common, neutral word for the true nature of something, while 真髄 carries a more profound, almost spiritual sense of the deepest essence, often of arts or teachings.
核かく心しんN1
核心 refers to the concrete central point of an issue or problem, whereas 真髄 points to the deepest, most essential quality of a skill, art, or character.
精せい髄ずい
精髄 and 真髄 are near-identical literary words for the finest essence of something, with 精髄 emphasizing the purest, most refined part.
極ごく意い
極意 is the secret, ultimate technique or wisdom of a specific art or skill, while 真髄 more broadly means the essential nature of any subject.
骨こつ髄ずい
骨髄 can figuratively mean the depths of one's heart, whereas 神髄 refers to the essential core or true nature of something, often abstract like an art or philosophy.

Don't confuse with

骨こつ髄ずい
骨髄 shares the kanji 髄 with 真髄 but means the physical bone marrow inside bones, not an abstract essence.
髄ずい
真髄 is a figurative word meaning the essence or core of something, whereas 髄 literally denotes plant pith or bone marrow.

Written forms

神しん髄ずいUsage35%
Also common; 神 means 'spirit' or 'divine', emphasizing the spiritual or profound core. Both forms are widely used and interchangeable.
真しん髄ずいUsage65%
Common kanji form; 真 means 'true' and 髄 means 'marrow', together conveying the innermost essence.

Etymology

神髄 is a variant spelling of 真髄, “marrow” or “innermost essence.” 髄 “marrow” is used metaphorically for the deepest or most essential part of something.