JSONPath and JSON with string variables

I went to a JSONPath verification site:

http://jsonpath.curiousconcept.com/

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I have a string: contained within the following JSON object:

{"string":"abc"}

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I used the following JSONPath expression to get the value of "string"

$.string

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and this returned to me the value of

   "abc"

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My qusetion is:  is there a JSONPath expression that I can use that will return the value of "string" without the double quotes enclosing the string, in other words, is there a way to write a JSONPath expression tha twill return the following:

   abc

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Thanks