閩語可以用「精」表示｛清｝和｛稀｝。「精」屬於上古漢語中表示｛不含雜質｝的耕部詞族 TSENG。這個核心義引申出了閩語的｛清｝義和｛稀｝義。「精」的原始閩語形式可以擬作 *-tsin ͭ ͦ ⁿ ͤ ¹。它的主要元音 *i 是「精」的上古音 *tseŋ 之前元音 *e 的規則反映形式。

　　In Min dialects, the character 精 (jing) can be used to express the meanings 清 and 稀. 精 belongs to the Old Chinese word family TSENG, whose core meaning is “free of impurities” or “pure”. From this core meaning, the Min meanings 清 and 稀 are derived through semantic extension. The Proto-Min form of 精 can be reconstructed as *-tsin ͭ ͦ ⁿ ͤ ¹. Its main vowel *i represents the regular reflex of the front vowel *e in Old Chinese.

閩語; 精; 清; 稀; 上古前元音

Min dialects; 精; 清; 稀; Old Chinese front vowels