细看 (xì kàn) — to scan carefully; to examine in detail

Definition

细看 (xì kàn) is a verb-object phrase meaning 'to examine closely' — a deliberate, careful look at details (a report, data, evidence). Unlike 看 alone, it emphasizes scrutiny rather than casual viewing.

verb
to scan carefullyto examine in detail

Examples

  • 细看。
    Tā rèn zhēn dì xì kàn le nà fèn bào gào.
    He carefully scanned that report.
  • 细看。
    Wǒ jiàn yì nǐ zài xì kàn yí xià zhè ge shù jù.
    I suggest you examine this data in detail again.
  • 细看，。
    Jīng guò fǎn fù xì kàn, wǒ men fā xiàn le wèn tí.
    After repeated careful examination, we found the problem.

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.

细xìcareful
看kànlook

“细” (careful) describes how one “看” (looks).

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 shape 看 puts 手 (hand) over 目 (eye), showing a hand placed above the eyes to gaze into the distance.

Open 看 →

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