巨细 (jù xì) — to attend to all matters big and small; to be thorough and meticulous in handling details

Definition

巨细 is a near-archaic written word meaning 'every detail, big and small', used mostly in set phrases like 事无巨细 ('every matter, big or small'). It is not a verb used alone — you won't say 我巨细 by itself.

verb
to attend to all matters big and smallto be thorough and meticulous in handling details

Examples

  • 巨细，。
    Tā zuò shì jù xì, cóng bú fàng guò rèn hé yí gè xì jié.
    He handles matters thoroughly, never missing a single detail.
  • ，。
    Shì wú jù xì, tā dōu qīn zì jiǎn chá yí biàn.
    He personally checks everything, no matter how big or small.
  • 巨细，。
    Zhè wèi jīng lǐ jù xì jiān guǎn, gōng sī yùn zhuǎn dé fēi cháng shùn lì.
    This manager takes care of everything, big and small, so the company runs very smoothly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

巨jùhuge
细xìsmall

巨 means huge and 细 means small, covering every matter from large to tiny.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 巨 →

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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