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刻意 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
刻意kèyìmeticulousHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #9057, Very Hard
刻意kèyìpainstakingHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #9057, Very Hard
刻意kèyìdeliberateHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #9057, Very Hard
kèyì(ke4yi4) T4
  1. 1meticulous
  2. 2painstaking
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March 24, 2026

刻意kèyì(ke4yi4)

刻意 (kè yì) refers to being meticulous or deliberate in one's actions, often implying a level of careful planning or intention behind those actions. It is commonly used to describe effort put into achieving a specific outcome or the intentionality behind a behavior, which can be positive or negative depending on context.

Strokes21Frequency#9057DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of being painstakingly deliberate is often admired, especially in arts like calligraphy or traditional craftsmanship, where meticulous attention to detail is seen as a virtue.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sculptor (刻) carving (意) a statue with great care and intention, where every detail is deliberate. The character 刻 (kè) looks like a chisel, which is a tool for carving, reminding you of the meticulous effort involved.

Meanings of 刻意

kèyì(ke4yi4)
1meticulous
2painstaking
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About 刻意

刻意Simplified
21Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 刻意

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Podcast: 刻意

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AI Study Notes for 刻意

Quick Contrast

刻意 (kèyì) vs 故意 (gùyì): 刻意 emphasizes meticulous planning and intention, while 故意 implies a sense of doing something intentionally with a possible negative connotation.

Usage Notes

刻意 can sometimes have a negative connotation, suggesting that someone is trying too hard or is insincere in their efforts. It is often used in both formal and informal settings, but be careful with tone; ensure you avoid using it in overly casual contexts where it might sound sarcastic.

HSK Study Tips

While 刻意 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful for advanced learners looking to express intentionality or deliberate actions. Students should focus on understanding its nuances and contrasts with similar words like 故意 (gù yì), which means 'on purpose.'

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 刻意 (kè yì) with 故意 (gù yì), thinking they mean the same. Remember, 故意 implies malicious intent, while 刻意 focuses on carefulness and intention. For example, saying '他刻意犯错' (He deliberately made a mistake) is incorrect if you're implying it was unintentional; use 故意 instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 刻意

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Component Characters

刻kèquarter (hour)
HSK 38 strokes刂
View full entry
意yìItaly
HSK 313 strokes心
View full entry

How to say meticulous in Chinese

“meticulous” in Chinese is刻意kèyì

刻意 (kè yì) refers to being meticulous or deliberate in one's actions, often implying a level of careful planning or intention behind those actions. It is commonly used to describe effort put into achieving a specific outcome or the intentionality behind a behavior, which can be positive or negative depending on context.

When to use 刻意

刻意 can sometimes have a negative connotation, suggesting that someone is trying too hard or is insincere in their efforts. It is often used in both formal and informal settings, but be careful with tone; ensure you avoid using it in overly casual contexts where it might sound sarcastic.

刻意 or something close to it

刻意 (kèyì) vs 故意 (gùyì): 刻意 emphasizes meticulous planning and intention, while 故意 implies a sense of doing something intentionally with a possible negative connotation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 刻意 (kè yì) with 故意 (gù yì), thinking they mean the same. Remember, 故意 implies malicious intent, while 刻意 focuses on carefulness and intention. For example, saying '他刻意犯错' (He deliberately made a mistake) is incorrect if you're implying it was unintentional; use 故意 instead.

Write 刻意

刻
意

Practice writing 刻意 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 刻意

Not necessarily; while it can imply trying too hard or being insincere, it can also be used positively to commend someone for their careful planning.

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