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事无巨细 (shì wú jù xì) — all matters, big and small; everything regardless of importance (used to describe thorough, hands-on handling)

Definition

An idiom meaning 'every matter, big or small' — emphasizes someone who personally handles all details, no matter how minor. Used to praise thorough, hands-on involvement (often of a leader or manager).

idiom
all mattersbig and smalleverything regardless of importance (used to describe thorough, hands-on handling)

Examples

  • ，事无巨细，。
    Zuò wéi jīng lǐ, tā duì gōng sī de shì zǒng shì shì wú jù xì, qīn zì guò wèn.
    As a manager, he always personally inquires about everything at the company, big or small.
  • 事无巨细，。
    Zhè wèi lǎo xiào zhǎng shì wú jù xì, cóng jiào xué dào hòu qín yàng yàng cāo xīn.
    This old principal handles everything, big and small — from teaching to logistics, he worries about it all.
  • 事无巨细，。
    Mǔ qīn shì wú jù xì, jiā lǐ dà xiǎo shì dōu ān pái dé jǐng jǐng yǒu tiáo.
    Mother handles everything, big and small, arranging all household matters in perfect order.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

Open 事 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 無; 无 is its simplified writing.

For the simplified 无, the story is about 無. 無 drew a person dancing with ox tails held in both hands to pray for rain, then was borrowed for 'have no', so the picture does not explain that meaning.

Open 无 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 巨 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 細; 细 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
囟
囟xìn細xì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 細 pairs 糸, silk or thread, with 囟 for the sound. The simplified 细 is a later shorthand, and the old right part changed shape.

Open 细 →
Appears in
Abstract ConceptsIdioms & Set Phrases

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