切实
qiè shí · HSK 6
feasible
✅ 切 cut + 实 real — cut away fluff to get what is real and practical
When you cut (切) down to what is solid and real (实), you reach what is feasible and earnest. No wishful thinking, just the practical core that remains after trimming.
切 — 七 (phonetic) + 刀 (knife radical)
切 is a semantic-phonetic compound: 刀 'knife' gives the meaning of cutting, while 七 supplies the sound. The original sense was to slice or cut with a blade. From there it extended figuratively to 'close to' (as in pressed against) and 'urgent/earnest', as in 切实.