Common in idioms such as 精が出る, 精を出す, and 精がつく, referring to physical or mental energy for work or activity.
最近、仕事に精が出ない。
Lately I can't put much energy into work.
It's said that eating eel gives you energy.
Eating nutritious food gives you strength.
Used for a supernatural or mythic spirit inhabiting nature or a place, as in 森の精 or 水の精.
森の精が少女の前に現れた。
A forest spirit appeared before the girl.
fine detail; fineness
Limited and somewhat academic or literary as an independent idea; most naturally seen in compounds or contrasts such as 精粗, meaning fineness versus roughness of detail.
資料によって記述の精粗に差がある。
The level of detail in the descriptions varies depending on the source.
Rare as a standalone modern word; more commonly expressed as 精液. This use appears in medical, reproductive, or older contexts.
See also: 精液
古い医学的な文脈では、「精」が精液を指すことがある。
In older medical contexts, 精 can refer to semen.
彼は最近、仕事に精を出している。
He's been putting a lot of energy into his work lately.
妖精 specifically means a fairy or elf, whereas 精 alone can refer more broadly to any nature spirit, as in 森の精.
精液 is the standard modern medical term for semen, while 精 used alone in this sense is rare and mostly literary or archaic.
mind; spirit; psyche · attitude; mentality; will · spirit (of a matter); essence; fundamental significance
fairy; sprite; elf
precision; accuracy
one's best; the best one can do · with all one's might; as hard as possible
at most; at best; only · as much as possible; to the utmost
Attested high-priority kanji form. The word is often encountered in fixed expressions and compounds as well as in short noun uses.
Sino-Japanese reading せい of the kanji 精. The spelling is conventionally associated with refined essence, spirit, vigor, and related biological senses; no detailed historical derivation is specified.
refining; purification · careful manufacture; meticulous production
elite; best; pick; cream of the crop
close investigation; careful examination; scrutiny
exact calculation; adjustment of accounts; settlement
fertilization; insemination; pollination
elaborate; exquisite; delicate
rice polishing; polished rice
essential oil; volatile oil · refined oil
quality meat; processed meat; smallgoods
wet dream; nocturnal emission
detailed; meticulous; fine; minute
delicate; minute; fine; detailed; subtle
testicle; testis
essence; quintessence; flower; glory
refining; smelting · training; drilling; polishing (skills)
precision machinery; precision equipment
eye strain; asthenopia
sharp and virile; tough-looking; masculine
careful selection; handpicked; choice
brilliance; luster; colorfulness · vividness; life
spirit; life energy; vitality; essence
careful reading; close reading; intensive reading