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精细 (jīng xì) — fine (delicate, intricate); meticulous, careful (in handling details)

Definition

精细 stresses 'fine, intricate' workmanship (craftsmanship, instruments, carving), while 仔细 and 细心 describe a person's careful, attentive approach to a task.

adjective
fine (delicate, intricate)meticulouscareful (in handling details)

Examples

  • 精细。
    Zhè zuò diāo sù de diāo kè fēi cháng jīng xì.
    The carving of this sculpture is very fine.
  • 精细，。
    Tā zuò shì jīng xì, hěn shǎo chū cuò.
    She is meticulous in her work and rarely makes mistakes.
  • 精细。
    Zhè tái yí qì xū yào jīng xì tiáo jié.
    This instrument requires careful adjustment.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

精jīngfine
细xìdetailed

「精」 and 「细」 both mean fine or detailed, together describing meticulous care.

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
青
青qīng精jīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

精 pairs 米 (rice) with 青, which gives the sound; the character originally meant polished rice.

Open 精 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Good & Bad

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