末节 (mò jié) — minor details, nonessentials, trivialities

Definition

末节 means 'minor details' or 'trivialities' — small points that don't affect the main result. Often used in phrases like 不要计较末节 or 在末节上浪费时间.

noun
minor detailsnonessentialstrivialities

Examples

  • 末节，。
    Bú yào zhī guān zhù mò jié, yào kàn dà jú.
    Don't just focus on minor details; look at the big picture.
  • 末节。
    Zhè xiē mò jié bù yǐng xiǎng zuì zhōng jié guǒ.
    These trivial details don't affect the final result.
  • 末节。
    Tǎo lùn shí bié zài mò jié shàng làng fèi shí jiān.
    Don't waste time on minor details during the discussion.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

末mòend, minor
节jiésection, detail

末 (end, minor) and 节 (section, detail) combine to mean trivial parts rather than essentials.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

末 adds a mark at the top of a tree-like shape to show its tip or end.

Open 末 →

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 節; 节 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺮Written in full as竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
即
即jí節jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 節 pairs ⺮ (bamboo) with 即, which gives the sound; the bamboo part points to a node of bamboo. The simplified 节 is a later abbreviation.

Open 节 →

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