How to Write 纯 (chún) — Meaning “Pure / Simple”

Imagine a pure white silk thread (纟) that has just been gathered and stored in a small village (the shape of 屯 looks like a simple house). This clean silk is "pure" — so remember: silk village equals purity.

Write the left radical 纟 first with three strokes: 撇折, 撇折, 提 — make sure it is narrow. Then add the right part 屯: horizontal, vertical fold, vertical, and finally a vertical hook that curves slightly right. A common mistake is to make the last stroke a simple hook instead of a vertical hook.

纯 (chún) means pure or simple, while 纠 (jiū) means to correct or twist, and 纡 (yū) means to bend or be circuitous. Visually, 纯 has 屯 on the right (with a vertical hook), 纠 has 丩 (two vertical lines linked), and 纡 has 于 (a horizontal and vertical line). Focus on the right side shape to tell them apart.

纯 appears in everyday words like 纯净水 (purified water), 单纯 (simple or naive), and 纯正 (pure and authentic, e.g., purebred or genuine taste). It is often used on product labels to indicate no additives, and in names to suggest innocence or genuine quality.

Common words containing 纯 include: 纯净水 (chún jìng shuǐ) — purified water; 单纯 (dān chún) — simple; 纯正 (chún zhèng) — pure; authentic.