具体

• Pinyin: jù tǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 具 = originally depicting two hands holding a tripod vessel, meaning tool or to possess; 体 = 亻(person) + 本 (root), meaning body or form

Meaning

Concrete; specific; detailed. Describes information, plans, or descriptions that are clear and precise rather than vague.

Used to request or describe specific details rather than general or abstract information. Commonly paired with 情况 (situation), 时间 (time), 计划 (plan), and 内容 (content). The opposite is 抽象 (abstract) or 笼统 (vague).

Examples

1. 你能说得具体一点吗？ Can you be a bit more specific?
2. 我们还没有具体的计划。 We don't have a concrete plan yet.
3. 具体时间我再告诉你。 I'll let you know the specific time later.

Usage Guide

Context: communication, planning, work

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 请给我一个具体的时间。(Please give me a specific time.)
• 他把具体的步骤写了下来。(He wrote down the detailed steps.)

Don't Say

• 今天的天气很具体。(Don't use 具体 to describe weather — it means 'specific' or 'detailed.' For clear weather, say 今天的天气很好.)

Origin & History

Compound of 具 (tool, to possess) and 体 (body, form). Literally 'having bodily form' — something tangible and detailed, as opposed to abstract.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal