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密切 (mì qiè) — (adjective) close, intimate; (verb) to pay close attention to; to closely monitor

Definition

Both an adjective ('close, intimate', e.g. 关系密切) and a verb meaning 'to foster close ties' or 'to monitor closely' (密切注意). More formal than 亲近, and emphasizes actively maintaining contact rather than feeling close.

adjective
closeintimate
verb
to pay close attention toto closely monitor

Examples

  • 密切。
    Tā men guān xì hěn mì qiè.
    Their relationship is very close.
  • 密切，。
    Tā men mì qiè le hé zuò, xiào guǒ hěn hǎo.
    They strengthened their cooperation, and the results were good.
  • 密切。
    Wǒ men bì xū mì qiè zhù yì shì chǎng de biàn huà.
    We must closely monitor changes in the market.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

密mìclose
切qièintimate

密 means close and 切 means intimate, so the word describes a close, intimate relation.

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
山山shānmountain
Sound part声符shēngfú
宓
宓mì密mì
Same sound today

密 pairs 山 (mountain) with 宓 (mì), which gives the pronunciation, to picture something hidden in the mountains, hence secret.

Open 密 →

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
刀刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
七
七qī切qiè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 切, the 刀 (knife) part is joined to 七, which gives the sound.

Open 切 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Friends & Social

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