精明
jīng míng · HSK 7
astute
💡 精 refined + 明 bright = a refined, bright mind: astute and shrewd
精 means refined or essence, 明 means bright or clear. A mind that is both refined and clear-sighted is shrewd. Same 明 as in 明白 (to understand clearly).
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.'