精
Meanings
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.
Lately I can't put much energy into work.
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.
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.
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
In older medical contexts, 精 can refer to semen.
Usage patterns
- 精がつくto gain energy or strength (esp. from food)
It's said that eating eel gives you energy.
- 〈事〉に精を出すto devote energy or effort to something
He's been putting a lot of energy into his work lately.
Expressions· 8
- 木の精tree spirit; dryad
- 水の精water spirit; water nymph; naiad
- 精が出るwork hard; put in effort; do one's best
- 精を出すwork hard; put in effort; do one's best
- 精が尽きるbe exhausted; run out of energy
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- 精を励ますmake a great effort; exert oneself
- 精も根も尽き果てるuse up all energy and willpower; be completely exhausted and lose the will to go on
- 精神一到何事か成らざらんwhere there is a will, there is a way