精品
jīngpǐn · HSK 6
quality goods
💎 jīng (essence/refined) + pǐn (product) = refined product, quality goods
精 means essence, spirit, or refined. 品 means product or article. Together they literally mean refined product — a boutique item or showpiece of top-tier craftsmanship.
精 — rice 米 + blue/green 青 (phonetic)
A semantic-phonetic compound: 米 (rice) gives the meaning, while 青 supplies the sound. Originally referred to polished, refined rice — grain with the husk removed. The sense broadened to 'refined, pure, essence,' and later 'fine, skilled, spirit.'
品 — three 口 (mouth) stacked
品 is an ideogram showing three 口 (mouths or openings) piled together. The repetition of 口 suggests many people, items, or voices, which gave rise to meanings like 'kinds,' 'goods,' 'rank,' and 'to taste/judge.' The triple stacking is a common Chinese device for indicating plurality or variety.