TongTong
Sign in

粗略 (cū lüè) — rough, cursory (not precise or detailed)

Definition

Means a plan, estimate, or report is only approximate and lacks detail. Unlike 粗糙 (rough texture/quality) or 粗暴 (brutal behavior), it refers to precision, not texture or conduct.

adjective
roughcursory (not precise or detailed)

Examples

  • 粗略。
    Tā zuò le yí gè cū lüè de jì huà.
    He made a rough plan.
  • 粗略，。
    Zhè fèn bào gào nèi róng hěn cū lüè, xū yào bǔ chōng xì jié.
    The content of this report is very rough; it needs more details.
  • 粗略。
    Wǒ men xiān cū lüè jì suàn yí xià chéng běn.
    Let's first make a rough calculation of the cost.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

粗cūrough
略lüègeneral

“粗” rough and “略” general combine to mean not detailed or precise.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
且
且qiě粗cū
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

粗 pairs 米 (rice), which points to its meaning, with 且, which gives a clue to its sound.

Open 粗 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
田田tiánfield
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè略lüè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

略 combines 田 (field) with 各 for sound; the described idea is walking around a field to outline it.

Open 略 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Good & Bad

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.