细说 (xì shuì) — to tell in detail; to explain thoroughly

Definition

细说 (xì shuō) is a formal verb meaning 'to explain in detail,' often used in writing or speeches when breaking down a topic step by step.

verb

to tell in detailto explain thoroughly

细说。
Qǐng nǐ bǎ zhè ge gù shi zǐ xì xì shuì yí biàn.
Please tell this story in detail once.
，细说。
Guān yú nà jiàn shì, tā xì shuì le hěn jiǔ.
He talked about that matter in detail for a long time.
细说。
Lǎo shī yāo qiú xué shēng xì shuì měi gè bù zhòu.
The teacher asked the students to explain each step in detail.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

细xìdetailed

细 means detailed and 说 means to speak, so the meaning is to tell something in detail.

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

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.

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 說; 说 is its simplified writing.

言兌說

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

兌

兌duì說shuō

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 說 pairs 言 (meaning) with 兌 (sound); the simplified 说 is not the form described here.

Appears in