精致 (jīng zhì) — exquisite, delicate, refined | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

精致 describes the fine, refined quality of a crafted object — jewelry, food, decor. Unlike 精妙 (works of art/design) or 精密 (technical accuracy), it focuses on elegant small-scale craftsmanship.

adjective

exquisitedelicaterefined

Examples

精致。
Zhè jiā jiǔ diàn de zhuāng xiū fēi cháng jīng zhì.
The decoration of this hotel is very exquisite.
精致。
Tā zuò le yì zhuō jīng zhì de fàn cài.
She made a table of exquisite dishes.
精致，。
Zhè kuài shǒu biǎo zuò gōng jīng zhì, jià gé bù fěi.
This watch has exquisite craftsmanship and is expensive.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

精jīngrefined

致zhìdelicate

精 (refined) and 致 (delicate) together suggest exquisite, fine workmanship.

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.

米青精

Meaning part形符xíngfú

米米mǐrice

Sound part声符shēngfú

青

青qīng精jīng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

精 pairs 米 (rice) with 青, which gives the sound; the character originally meant polished rice.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

至攵致

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攵Written in full as攴pū

Sound part声符shēngfú

至

至zhì致zhì

Same sound today

致 pairs 至, used for its sound, with 攵, written in full as 攴.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Good & Bad

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