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adjective HSK 4
Traditional 細心
xì xīn
careful · meticulous · attentive

Meaning

细心 describes someone who pays close attention to details and acts with care and thoroughness. It combines 细 (fine, detailed) and 心 (heart, mind) to convey the idea of having a fine or detailed mind—being observant and careful in one's actions and thinking.

Usage

Commonly used to praise someone's careful and attentive behavior, especially in work, study, or caring for others. It's a positive trait in Chinese culture. Often appears in the pattern 很细心 (very careful) or 细心地 (carefully, as an adverb).

Examples

  1. 01
    她是一个很细心的人，总能注意到别人忽略的细节。
    Tā shì yí gè hěn xì xīn de rén, zǒng néng zhù yì dào bié rén hū lüè de xì jié.
    She is a very careful person who always notices details that others overlook.
  2. 02
    做这个工作需要细心，不能出错。
    Zuò zhè ge gōng zuò xū yào xì xīn, bù néng chū cuò.
    This job requires careful attention; you can't make mistakes.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 细心观察
    xì xīn guān chá
    to observe carefully
  • 细心照顾
    xì xīn zhào gù
    to take care of attentively
  • 很细心
    hěn xì xīn
    very careful/attentive
  • 细心地
    xì xīn de
    carefully, attentively

Antonyms

Origin

The compound literally means 'fine heart/mind,' suggesting a mind that attends to fine details and small matters with care.

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