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细微 (xì wēi) — minute, subtle, fine (of differences, changes, sounds, details); sensitive (of instruments)

Definition

细微 describes tiny, hard-to-notice differences or changes (差别, 变化). Pairs with 微妙 for hard-to-pin-down feelings or situations; 微小 stresses physical smallness.

adjective
minutesubtlefine (of differences, changes, sounds, details)sensitive (of instruments)

Examples

  • 细微。
    Zhè liǎng gè fāng àn zhǐ yǒu xì wēi de chā bié.
    There are only subtle differences between these two plans.
  • 细微。
    Zhè zhǒng yí qì néng jiǎn cè dào xì wēi de wēn dù biàn huà.
    This instrument can detect minute temperature changes.
  • 细微。
    Tā zhù yì dào le tā liǎn shàng xì wēi de biǎo qíng biàn huà.
    He noticed the subtle change in her expression.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

细xìfine
微wēiminute

细 fine and 微 minute together mean very small or subtle.

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.

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 →

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

The old form showed 𡵂 (a variant of 美, a person with long hair) and 攵 (a hand with a tool) splitting or combing hairs, hence minute; 微 later added 彳 to emphasize action.

Open 微 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Size & Dimension

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