Meanings of 細
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About 細
Podcast: 細
Podcast: 細
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AI Study Notes for 細
细 (xì) vs 精细 (jīngxì) — use 细 for general thinness or detail, while 精细 emphasizes meticulousness or precision.
Common mistakes include confusing 細 (xì) with 粗 (cū), which means 'thick.' Use 細 in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with its tone; it should be pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone). Collocations include 細節 (xìjié, 'details') and 細心 (xìxīn, 'careful').
While 細 is not currently on the HSK list, it connects with other descriptive adjectives like 大 (dà, 'big') or 高 (gāo, 'tall'). Students should focus on using it in context with other adjectives to describe objects or situations.
Learners often confuse 細 with its antonym 粗 (cū, 'thick'). For example, saying 細的 (xì de) when describing a thick object is incorrect; it should be 粗的 (cū de).
Pronunciation of 細
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Etymology of 細
Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 田 represents the sound. Simplified form of 細.
silk
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 細
Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 田 represents the sound. Simplified form of 細.
- 1The meaning half糹 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half田 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaysilk
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 細? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 細
Identify the Components
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How to say fine, detailed; slender, thin in Chinese
“fine, detailed; slender, thin” in Chinese is細
The character 細 (xì) means 'fine' or 'detailed,' often used to describe something that is thin or slender. It can refer to the intricacy of details in art or craftsmanship as well as the physical thinness of objects such as noodles or threads.
When to use 細
Common mistakes include confusing 細 (xì) with 粗 (cū), which means 'thick.' Use 細 in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with its tone; it should be pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone). Collocations include 細節 (xìjié, 'details') and 細心 (xìxīn, 'careful').
細 or something close to it
细 (xì) vs 精细 (jīngxì) — use 细 for general thinness or detail, while 精细 emphasizes meticulousness or precision.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 細 with its antonym 粗 (cū, 'thick'). For example, saying 細的 (xì de) when describing a thick object is incorrect; it should be 粗的 (cū de).
Write 細
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Practice writing 細 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 細
Compound Meaning
What does 细胞 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 細
It is pronounced xì, with a falling tone.
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