细细的 (xì xì de) — thin and delicate (in texture or appearance); fine (of lines, threads, rain, sounds)

Definition

Reduplicated form of 细 (xì): emphasizes a fine, thin, delicate quality — used for lines, threads, rain, or soft sounds. Slightly more vivid and literary than plain 细.

adjective
thin and delicate (in texture or appearance)fine (of lines, threads, rain, sounds)

Examples

  • 细细的。
    Tā dài le yì tiáo xì xì de xiàng liàn.
    She wore a thin and delicate necklace.
  • 细细的。
    Chuāng wài xià zhe xì xì de xiǎo yǔ.
    Outside the window, a fine light rain is falling.
  • 细细的。
    Tā yòng xì xì de de bǐ zài zhǐ shàng huà le yì tiáo xiàn.
    He drew a line on the paper with a fine-tipped pen.

Origin

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 →

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 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
白白báiwhite
Sound part声符shēngfú
勺
勺sháo的de
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

的 pairs 白, related to white or brightness, with 勺, which gives a clue to the sound. Its older form 旳 meant bright.

Open 的 →

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