粋
いき · iki · JLPT N3 · na-adj
purity
🍚 粋 = rice 米 + 九: polished, unmixed rice → purity, then refined style
The old form 粹 meant pure, unmixed rice, the essence of the grain. From purity came refinement, and Edo townspeople used iki for understated, effortless chic. It sounds like icky, which is the opposite of iki.
すい · sui · JLPT N1 · na-adj
essence