水晶

• Pinyin: shuǐ jīng
• Hanzi breakdown: 水 = water (clarity); 晶 = 日×3 (three suns — extreme brightness and purity)

Meaning

Crystal; rock crystal. Naturally occurring transparent quartz or man-made crystal glass used in jewellery, decoration, and spiritual practices.

Prized in Chinese culture for its purity and clarity. 水晶球 (crystal ball) is associated with divination; 水晶项链 (crystal necklace) is a popular gift. The term also appears in product names (水晶虾饺, crystal shrimp dumplings) to evoke translucency.

Examples

1. 她戴着一串天然水晶手链，据说有助于平静心绪。 She wears a bracelet made of natural crystal, which is said to help calm the mind.
2. 博物馆里展出了一块重达十公斤的天然水晶原石。 The museum is displaying a piece of natural crystal ore weighing as much as ten kilograms.
3. 水晶灯在灯光的照耀下闪烁出五彩斑斓的光芒。 Under the lights, the crystal chandelier sparkles with brilliant, multicolored light.

Usage Guide

Context: jewellery, decoration, spirituality, food

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这款水晶摆件工艺精湛，是送礼的上佳之选。(This crystal ornament is exquisitely crafted and an excellent gift choice.)
• 地质学家在山洞中发现了一片罕见的天然水晶矿脉。(Geologists discovered a rare natural crystal vein inside a mountain cave.)

Don't Say

• 水晶 is not synonymous with 玻璃 (glass) — 水晶 implies natural or high-quality crystal, while 玻璃 is ordinary glass; confusing them sounds cheap or inaccurate

Origin & History

水 (water) + 晶 (sparkling, clear) — clear as water and sparkling like light

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal