Definition
细微 (xìwēi) means 'minute, subtle' — used for differences, changes, sounds, or details that are very fine and barely perceptible. Unlike 微小 (wēixiǎo, merely small in size) or 渺小 (miǎoxiǎo, tiny and insignificant), 细微 emphasizes the delicate, hard-to-detect nature. For the 'sensitive instrument' sense, 细微 describes technical precision, while 敏感 (mǐngǎn) refers to emotional or physical sensitivity.
adjective
minutesubtlefine (of differences, changes, sounds, details)sensitive (of instruments)
Easily confused
- 席位xí wèisound-alikea seat (in a theater, stadium, etc.)
Examples
- 细微。Zhè liǎng ge fāng'àn zhǐyǒu xì wēi de chābié.There are only subtle differences between these two plans.
- 细微。Zhè zhǒng yíqì néng jiǎncè dào xì wēi de wēndù biànhuà.This instrument can detect minute temperature changes.
- 细微。Tā zhùyì dào le tā liǎn shàng xì wēi de biǎoqíng biànhuà.He noticed the subtle change in her expression.
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