剔透 (tī tòu) is an elegant, literary adjective meaning 'crystal-clear' or 'translucent'—describing something so pure and transparent that light passes through it unimpeded, like flawless ice, fine jade, or dewdrops on a spiderweb. The first character 剔 (tī) originally means 'to carve away impurities' or 'to pick out', suggesting refinement and removal of flaws; the second character 透 (tòu) means 'to penetrate' or 'to be thoroughly visible', implying complete transparency. Together, they evoke an image of pristine clarity achieved through careful purification.

This word is commonly used to describe natural phenomena (e.g., frost, water, gemstones), refined materials (e.g., glassware, porcelain), or even abstract qualities like 'a剔透 mind' (a lucid, unclouded intellect). It carries a poetic, slightly formal tone and appears frequently in descriptive writing, classical poetry adaptations, and high-end product descriptions—not in casual speech. While often paired with nouns like 水 (water), 冰 (ice), or 心 (heart), it functions as a standalone attributive adjective before the noun.