醍 (tí) - Clear & limpid

醍Tone 2

tí ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

檀婷

醍 · tí

Clear;

limpid;

refers to clarified butter or the finest part of something;

used in Buddhist terminology for the highest truth.

Clearlimpidrefers to clarified butter or the finest part

Usage highlights

Sudden enlightenmentClarified butterFinest winePure flavorBuddhist truthClear and limpid

Synonyms

  • 清— clear, pure
  • 澈— limpid, clear

Antonyms

  • 浊— turbid, muddy
  • 浑— muddy, confused

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The water was exceptionally clear (醍醐 water).
  • He experienced a moment of sudden enlightenment (醍醐灌顶).
  • This is the finest quality of butter (醍醐).

Collocations

  • Sudden enlightenment(醍醐灌顶)
  • Clarified butter(醍醐)
  • Finest wine(醍醐酒)
  • Pure flavor(醍醐味)
  • Buddhist truth(醍醐)
  • Clear and limpid(醍醐)

Idioms

  • Like pouring clarified butter on the head — sudden enlightenment(醍醐灌顶)
  • The taste of ghee — the ultimate truth(如饮醍醐)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to clarified butter in ancient India, considered the purest essence of milk.
  • In Buddhism, it metaphorically represents the highest, most profound teaching or sudden enlightenment.
  • The idiom '醍醐灌顶' describes a moment of sudden understanding or clarity, as if being anointed with the purest wisdom.

FAQ