(bound form) essential part; element; constituent; basic nature

vegetarian food; non-meat diet (traditionally excluding pungent vegetables like onions or garlic)

usually; habitually; always; according to one's long-standing practice

plain; unadorned; simple in color or style

(bound form) white; the color of undyed silk

(literary) for nothing; in vain; for no purpose

(literary) sincere; true; honest

a Chinese surname

(literary) white raw silk; (by extension) books or letters written on silk