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仔细 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
仔细zǐxìcarefulHSK 4, ad, rank #1611, Hard
仔细zǐxìattentiveHSK 4, ad, rank #1611, Hard
仔细zǐxìcautiousHSK 4, ad, rank #1611, Hard
zǐxì(zi3xi4) T3
  1. 1careful
  2. 2attentive
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March 24, 2026
仔细(仔細)zǐxì(zi3xi4)

The word 仔细 (zǐxì) describes a state of being careful, attentive, or cautious. It is often used to emphasize the importance of paying close attention to detail in various contexts, such as work, study, or daily tasks, where precision is crucial.

Frequency#1611DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being 仔细 is often associated with diligence and respect for quality, reflecting the value placed on thoroughness in both work and interpersonal relationships.

Memory Tip

Think of 仔细 as a 'zoo' where every 'animal' must be 'carefully' attended to. The character 仔 (zǐ) resembles a small detail, while 细 (xì) suggests fine or thin things. Imagine a zookeeper who is very careful with all the small and delicate animals.

Meanings of 仔细

zǐxì(zi3xi4)
1careful
2attentive
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 仔细

仔细Simplified
仔細Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#1611Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 仔细

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Podcast: 仔细

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AI Study Notes for 仔细

Quick Contrast

细心 (xìxīn): Use 仔细 (zǐxì) when emphasizing carefulness in a broader context, while 细心 (xìxīn) focuses more on a gentle attentiveness.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 仔细 as a 'zoo' where every 'animal' must be 'carefully' attended to. The character 仔 (zǐ) resembles a small detail, while 细 (xì) suggests fine or thin things. Imagine a zookeeper who is very careful with all the small and delicate animals.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include using 仔细 in overly casual contexts, where simpler words like 小心 (xiǎoxīn) might suffice. It is more formal, so it's often used in professional or academic settings. Be mindful of the tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 4 word, 仔细 connects to other vocabulary related to carefulness and attention, such as 留心 (liúxīn) and 小心 (xiǎoxīn). Students should focus on using it in sentences that highlight attention to detail.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being 仔细 is often associated with diligence and respect for quality, reflecting the value placed on thoroughness in both work and interpersonal relationships.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 仔细 with 小心 (xiǎoxīn), thinking they are interchangeable; however, 小心 is more about being cautious in risky situations, whereas 仔细 emphasizes attention to detail. For example, saying '我会仔细走' (wǒ huì zǐxì zǒu - I will walk carefully) is incorrect; it should be '我会小心走' (wǒ huì xiǎoxīn zǒu).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 仔细

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Component Characters

仔zǎimeticulous
5 strokes亻
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细xìthin or slender
HSK 48 strokes纟
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Write 仔细

仔
细

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

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Grammar Patterns of 仔细

仔细 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons3
Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

除非你____检查，不然太容易出错了。

Unless you check carefully, it is too easy to make mistakes.

Example Sentences for 仔细 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
你必须仔细检查并多方核对你所听到的每一件事。

nǐ bì xū zī xì jiǎn chá bìng duō fāng hé duì nǐ suǒ tīng dào de měi yī jiàn shì。

You have to scrupulously check and cross-check everything you hear.
2
这可不是头脑一热作出的决定。我们事先仔细地讨论过。

zhè kě bù shì tóu nǎo yī rè zuò chū de jué dìng。 。 wǒ mén shì xiān zī xì dì tǎo lùn。

It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. We discussed it in detail beforehand.
3
我不打扰你了，你在这儿可以仔细考虑考虑这事儿。

wǒ bù dǎ rǎo nǐ le， ， nǐ zài zhè ér kě yǐ zī xì kǎo lǜ kǎo lǜ zhè shì。

I'll leave you alone here so you can mull it over.
4
他们呈扇形散开，在寺庙周围仔细搜寻。

tā mén chéng shàn xíng sàn kāi， ， zài sì miào zhōu wéi zī xì sōu。

They fanned out and carefully combed the temple grounds.
5
米什卡找到个指甲剪，开始仔细地修剪指甲。

mǐ shí kǎ zhǎo dào gè zhǐ jiǎ jiǎn， ， kāi shǐ zī xì dì xiū jiǎn zhǐ。

Mishka got some nail scissors and started carefully trimming his fingernails.
6
如果你想掌握好英语, 你必须仔细区分同义词.

rú guǒ nǐ xiǎng zhǎng wò hǎo yīng yǔ, , nǐ bì xū zī xì qū fēn tóng yì.

If you want to grasp English, you must carefully discriminate synonyms.
7
那项提议需要经过仔细研究和考虑。

nà xiàng tí yì xū yào jīng guò zī xì yán jiū hé kǎo lǜ。

The proposal requires careful examination and consideration.
8
仔细看过统计数据后，会发现情况令人担忧。

zī xì kàn guò tǒng jì shù jù hòu， ， huì fā xiàn qíng kuàng líng rén dān。

A close look at the statistics reveals a troubling picture.
9
人们想仔细分析他的作品，并对他的动机提出质疑。

rén mén xiǎng zī xì fēn xī tā de zuò pǐn， ， bìng duì tā de dòng jī tí chū zhì。

People want to dissect his work and question his motives.
10
哈里精心购置了礼物又仔细包好，让马克交给他们。

hā lǐ jīng xīn gòu zhì le lǐ wù yòu zī xì bāo hǎo， ， ràng mǎ kè jiāo gěi tā。

Harry had carefully bought and wrapped presents for Mark to give them.

Cultural Notes for 仔细

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, being 仔细 is often associated with diligence and respect for quality, reflecting the value placed on thoroughness in both work and interpersonal relationships.

Frequently Asked Questions about 仔细

It's better suited for formal contexts, so consider using simpler terms like 小心 in casual settings.