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详 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
详
xiáng
detailed
ag, 8 strokes, radical 讠, rank #15192, Very Hard
详
xiáng
comprehensive
ag, 8 strokes, radical 讠, rank #15192, Very Hard
详
xiáng
complete, detailed, thorough
ag, 8 strokes, radical 讠, rank #15192, Very Hard
xiáng(xiang2)xiang T2
1detailed
2comprehensive
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March 24, 2026
详(詳)xiáng(xiang2)
The character 详 (xiáng) means detailed or comprehensive. It is commonly used to describe information that is thorough and complete, often in contexts such as reports, discussions, or explanations where clarity and depth are essential.
Strokes8Radical讠Frequency#15192DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the value of being detailed and thorough is emphasized, particularly in education and business practices. For instance, a well-prepared presentation that provides comprehensive information is highly regarded.
Memory tip
Imagine a detailed map (详) that provides every possible path and landmark. The left part (氵) resembles water, suggesting depth, while the right part (羊) can remind you of the saying 'the more you know, the more you can guide others,' like a shepherd guiding sheep.
Meanings of 详
xiáng(xiang2)
1detailed
2comprehensive
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 详
详Simplified
詳Traditional
8Strokes
讠Radical
形容词性语素xíngróngcíadjective root (adj.root)Part of Speech
#15192Frequency Rank
Podcast: 详
Podcast: 详
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AI study notes for 详
Quick Contrast
详 (xiáng) vs 细 (xì) — use 详 for detailed explanations, while 细 emphasizes fine details or subtlety.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 详 (xiáng) with 相 (xiāng), which means 'to resemble' or 'to see.' 详 is generally used in formal contexts, such as academic writing or official reports. Common collocations include 详细计划 (xiáng xì jì huà - detailed plan) and 详细说明 (xiáng xì shuō míng - detailed explanation).
HSK Study Tips
While 详 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects well with HSK Level 4 words like 清楚 (qīng chǔ - clear) and 完整 (wán zhěng - complete). Students should focus on using 详 in complex sentences to enhance their descriptive abilities.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 详 with similar-sounding words like 讲 (jiǎng - to speak) or 想 (xiǎng - to think). For example, saying 我想得很详 (wǒ xiǎng dé hěn xiáng) is incorrect; instead, use 我详细考虑了这个问题 (wǒ xiáng xì kǎo lǜ le zhè ge wèn tí - I considered this issue in detail).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 详
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 详 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
详 = 讠 + 羊. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 详
IDS Structure⿰讠羊
详Full character
=
讠yan2
left
羊Yang2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 详?
How to say detailed in Chinese
“detailed” in Chinese is详xiáng
The character 详 (xiáng) means detailed or comprehensive. It is commonly used to describe information that is thorough and complete, often in contexts such as reports, discussions, or explanations where clarity and depth are essential.
When to use 详
Be careful not to confuse 详 (xiáng) with 相 (xiāng), which means 'to resemble' or 'to see.' 详 is generally used in formal contexts, such as academic writing or official reports. Common collocations include 详细计划 (xiáng xì jì huà - detailed plan) and 详细说明 (xiáng xì shuō míng - detailed explanation).
详 or something close to it
详 (xiáng) vs 细 (xì) — use 详 for detailed explanations, while 细 emphasizes fine details or subtlety.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 详 with similar-sounding words like 讲 (jiǎng - to speak) or 想 (xiǎng - to think). For example, saying 我想得很详 (wǒ xiǎng dé hěn xiáng) is incorrect; instead, use 我详细考虑了这个问题 (wǒ xiáng xì kǎo lǜ le zhè ge wèn tí - I considered this issue in detail).
Write 详
详
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Grammar patterns of 详
详 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Some synonyms of 详 (xiáng) include 详细 (xiángxì), which also means detailed, and 周详 (zhōuxiáng), meaning comprehensive or meticulous. These words can often be used interchangeably depending on the context.
You should use 详 (xiáng) when you want to emphasize the completeness and thoroughness of information. It is particularly useful in formal contexts, such as reports or presentations, where detailed explanations are required.
详 (xiáng) means detailed or comprehensive in Chinese. It describes something that is thorough and complete, often used to refer to explanations or descriptions that provide a lot of information.
To use 详 (xiáng) in a sentence, you can say something like '请详细介绍一下这个项目' which means 'Please give a detailed introduction to this project.' It emphasizes the need for thoroughness in the information being provided.
You can say 这个报告非常详尽 (zhè ge bàogào fēicháng xiáng jìn), meaning 'This report is very detailed.'
It is more common in formal writing or discussions rather than in casual conversation.
It's not typically used to describe a person; it is usually applied to information or explanations.
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