“refined / spirit” in Japanese is 精, read sei, shou (せい, しょう). It is a Grade 5 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 5 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 精神 (spirit, mind).
What does 精 mean?
精一杯がんばる。
| Kanji | 精 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | refined / spirit |
| Readings | せい, しょう |
| Grade | Grade 5 (Hard) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 精神 (spirit, mind) |
精 is read sei (せい) or shou (しょう) depending on the word.
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side: