Definition
细 (xì) describes something thin in diameter (e.g., a thread, line) or fine in texture/particles (e.g., ground salt). For people's body shape, use 瘦 (shòu) for 'thin/slim' or 苗条 (miáo tiao) for 'gracefully slender'; for thinness of flat objects like paper, use 薄 (báo). 细 also means a quiet, soft sound (e.g., a voice).
adjective
thinslenderfine (of texture or particles)(of a sound) quietsoftslight
Easily confused
- 练liànlook-aliketo practice, to train (a skill)
- 洗xǐsound-aliketo wash
- 经jīnglook-aliketo pass through; to go through (a place, time, or experience)
- 西Xīsound-alikewest; the West
- 吸xīsound-aliketo inhale, to breathe in
- 戏xìsound-alike(noun) drama; play; show (especially theatrical performance)
- 系xìsound-aliketo relate to; to involve; to connect
- 系xìsound-alike(formal/classical) to be; to relate to
- 席xísound-alikewoven mat (e.g., bamboo or straw mat)
- 溪xīsound-alikecreek; rivulet
Examples
- 细。Zhè tiáo xiàn hěn xì.This thread is very thin.
- 细。Yán mó de hěn xì.The salt is ground very fine.
- 细。Tā de shēngyīn hěn xì.Her voice is quiet and soft.
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