致密 (zhì mì) — (adjective) dense, compact, fine-grained (of materials or textures); (adjective) rigorous, meticulous, irreproachable (of reasoning, behavior, or plans)

Definition

A formal written adjective meaning 'dense, fine-grained' for materials or textures, and 'rigorous, meticulous' for reasoning or plans. Most everyday speech uses 细密 for the texture sense.

adjective
densecompactfine-grained (of materials or textures)rigorousmeticulousirreproachable (of reasoning, behavior, or plans)

Examples

  • 致密，。
    Zhè zhǒng yán shí zhì dì zhì mì, fēi cháng shì hé diāo kè.
    This type of rock has a compact texture and is very suitable for carving.
  • 致密，。
    Tā de luó ji fēi cháng zhì mì, méi yǒu rén néng fǎn bó.
    His logic is extremely rigorous; no one can refute it.
  • 致密。
    Wǒ men xū yào yí gè zhì mì de xíng dòng fāng àn.
    We need a meticulously detailed action plan.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

致zhìfine
密mìdense

致 (fine) + 密 (dense) describes a compact, close-grained texture.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攵Written in full as攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
至
至zhì致zhì
Same sound today

致 pairs 至, used for its sound, with 攵, written in full as 攴.

Open 致 →

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
山山shānmountain
Sound part声符shēngfú
宓
宓mì密mì
Same sound today

密 pairs 山 (mountain) with 宓 (mì), which gives the pronunciation, to picture something hidden in the mountains, hence secret.

Open 密 →

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