细

• Pinyin: xì
• Hanzi breakdown: 细 = 糸 (silk/thread) + 田 (field) — fine silk, suggesting thinness and fineness

Meaning

Thin; fine; slender; detailed. Describes something narrow in width or meticulous in attention.

Used to describe the physical thinness of objects (a thin wire, fine thread) as well as metaphorical fineness in attention and detail (careful, thorough). Opposite of 粗 (thick/coarse). Appears in many compound words like 细节 (detail), 细心 (attentive), and 仔细 (careful).

Examples

1. 这根线太细了，容易断。 This thread is too thin and breaks easily.
2. 她的字写得很细，非常漂亮。 Her handwriting is very fine and extremely beautiful.
3. 做这项工作需要非常细的心思。 This kind of work requires very careful attention.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, description

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这支笔的笔尖很细，适合写小字。(The tip of this pen is very fine, suitable for writing small characters.)
• 她的手指很细很长，像钢琴家的手。(Her fingers are slender and long, like a pianist's hands.)

Don't Say

• 用细描述声音的低沉或粗犷。(Don't use 细 to describe a deep or rough voice — for high, thin voices use 细 in 细声, but 细 alone primarily describes physical thinness or attention to detail.)

Origin & History

Composed of 糸 (silk/thread) and 田 (field), suggesting fine silk thread — hence thin and detailed.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal