仔仔细细 (zǐ zǐ xì xì) — very careful; meticulously; thorough

Definition

An emphasized reduplication meaning 'very careful, meticulous' — more thorough than a single 仔细, typically used in writing or formal speech as an adverbial with 地.

bound form
very carefulmeticulouslythorough

Examples

  • 仔仔细细。
    Tā zǐ zǐ xì xì dì jiǎn chá le měi yí fèn wén jiàn.
    He carefully examined every document.
  • 仔仔细细。
    Qǐng bǎ zhè ge wèn tí zǐ zǐ xì xì dì yán jiū yí xià.
    Please study this issue very carefully.
  • 仔仔细细。
    Tā zǐ zǐ xì xì dì dǎ sǎo le fáng jiān de měi gè jiǎo luò.
    She meticulously cleaned every corner of the room.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

仔zǎicareful
仔zǎicareful
细xìcareful
细xìcareful

仔 and 细 convey careful attention; repeating them as 仔仔细细 expresses very careful or meticulous.

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
人人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ仔zǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

仔 puts 人 (person) next to 子, which gives the sound.

Open 仔 →

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
人人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ仔zǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

仔 puts 人 (person) next to 子, which gives the sound.

Open 仔 →

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 →

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 →

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