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仔细 (zǐ xì) — careful; attentive; meticulous

Definition

Adjective 'careful, meticulous,' often used as an adverb with 地. Lighter than 谨慎 ('cautious/prudent') and 慎重 — for everyday tasks, not high-stakes decisions.

adjective
carefulattentivemeticulous

Examples

  • 仔细。
    Qǐng zǐ xì jiǎn chá yí xià zuò yè.
    Please check the homework carefully.
  • 仔细。
    Tā zǐ xì dì dú le yí biàn hé tong.
    He read the contract carefully once.
  • 仔细，。
    Xiě zǐ xì yì diǎn, bié xiě cuò le.
    Write more carefully, don't make mistakes.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

仔zǎicareful
细xìdetailed

仔 and 细 both point to meticulous attention, so the whole means careful.

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.

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
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