细细 (xì xì) — very thin, fine, or delicate; very light or low…

Definition

细细 is a reduplicated bound form that intensifies 细 — meaning 'very fine / very careful / very soft'. It must attach to a verb or adjective with 地 or 的; it never stands alone.

bound form

very thinfineor delicatevery light or low (in voice or sound)very careful or meticulous

Examples

，。
Zhè kuài bù liào mō qǐ lái xì xì de, hěn róu ruǎn.
This fabric feels very fine and soft.
，。
Tā shuō huà de shēng yīn xì xì de, xiàng xiǎo māo jiào.
Her speaking voice is very soft, like a kitten meowing.
细细。
Tā bǎ xìn xì xì de kàn le yí biàn.
He read the letter very carefully.

Origin

Reduplicated word

构词法gòucífǎ

重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

细xìthin/fine

细细 together intensify thinness, delicacy, or care.

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.

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 →