Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== xìxīn: 细心 - Meticulous, Careful, Attentive ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** xixin, 细心, Chinese for meticulous, Chinese for attentive, careful in Chinese, what does xixin mean, xixin vs xiaoxin, Chinese character for detail, learning Chinese adjectives * **Summary:** Learn the meaning and cultural importance of **细心 (xìxīn)**, a key Chinese adjective for "meticulous," "careful," and "attentive." This guide breaks down the characters 细 (xì) and 心 (xīn), provides 10 practical example sentences, and explains the crucial difference between 细心 (xìxīn), 小心 (xiǎoxīn), and 认真 (rènzhēn). Discover why being 细心 is a highly praised quality in Chinese culture, reflecting not just precision but also thoughtfulness and care. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** xìxīn * **Part of Speech:** Adjective * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 * **Concise Definition:** To be meticulous, attentive to detail, and careful in execution. * **In a Nutshell:** **细心 (xìxīn)** describes a state of mind and a way of acting that is focused on the small details. It’s not just about avoiding mistakes; it's about being thorough, observant, and thoughtful. Think of a surgeon performing a delicate operation, an artist painting fine lines, or a friend who remembers your favorite coffee order. This quality combines precision with a caring, attentive "heart." ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **细 (xì):** This character means "thin," "fine," or "detailed." It's composed of the silk radical `纟(sī)` on the left and `田 (tián)`, the character for "field," on the right. You can imagine it as fine silk threads (`纟`) being carefully worked or analyzed, or as the detailed work of tending to a rice paddy (`田`). It points to something small and intricate. * **心 (xīn):** This character means "heart" or "mind." It is a pictograph of a human heart. In Chinese, the heart is considered the seat of both emotion and thought. * **Combined Meaning:** When you put them together, **细心 (xìxīn)** literally translates to a "detailed heart" or "fine mind." This beautifully captures the essence of the word: paying attention to the small things with one's full mental and emotional focus. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * In Chinese culture, **细心 (xìxīn)** is an extremely positive and highly valued personality trait. It goes beyond the Western professional concept of being "detail-oriented." While "detail-oriented" often focuses on task efficiency and accuracy in a work context, **细心 (xìxīn)** carries a deeper, more personal connotation of thoughtfulness and consideration. * **Comparison to Western "Attentiveness":** A person who is **细心** doesn't just do a job correctly; they do it with a level of care that shows respect for the task and for the people involved. For example, a **细心** host will not only prepare a meal but also remember a guest's food allergy without being reminded. A **细心** partner will notice a small change in your mood and ask if you're okay. This quality is seen as a sign of maturity, intelligence, and a good heart. Praising someone as **细心** is a significant compliment in personal relationships, academics, and the workplace. It implies reliability, diligence, and empathy. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * **In the Workplace:** Job descriptions for roles requiring precision, like accounting, engineering, or research, will often list **细心** as a key requirement. Bosses praise employees for being **细心** when they catch errors or produce high-quality, thorough work. * **In Personal Relationships:** It's a high compliment for a friend or romantic partner. Saying "你真细心 (nǐ zhēn xìxīn)" - "You're so thoughtful/attentive" - acknowledges a kind and observant gesture. * **In Academics:** Teachers constantly encourage students to be more **细心 (xìxīn)** when doing homework or taking exams to avoid careless mistakes. * **As an Instruction:** People often say "细心一点 (xìxīn yīdiǎn)," which means "Be a bit more careful/attentive," as a piece of advice or a gentle command. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 他工作非常**细心**，几乎从不出错。 * Pinyin: Tā gōngzuò fēicháng **xìxīn**, jīhū cóngbù chūcuò. * English: He is extremely meticulous in his work and almost never makes mistakes. * Analysis: This is a common way to praise a colleague or employee for their precision and reliability. * **Example 2:** * 谢谢你的礼物，你真**细心**，还记得我喜欢蓝色。 * Pinyin: Xièxiè nǐ de lǐwù, nǐ zhēn **xìxīn**, hái jìdé wǒ xǐhuān lánsè. * English: Thank you for the gift! You're so thoughtful, you even remembered that I like the color blue. * Analysis: This highlights the personal, considerate aspect of **细心**. It’s not just about facts, but about caring enough to remember details about a person. * **Example 3:** * 做这个实验需要特别**细心**，一步都不能错。 * Pinyin: Zuò zhège shíyàn xūyào tèbié **xìxīn**, yī bù dōu bùnéng cuò. * English: Doing this experiment requires one to be especially meticulous; not a single step can be wrong. * Analysis: Here, **细心** refers to the careful, procedural nature of a task where every detail matters. * **Example 4:** * 医生**细心**地检查了病人的每一份报告。 * Pinyin: Yīshēng **xìxīn** de jiǎnchá le bìngrén de měi yī fèn bàogào. * English: The doctor meticulously examined every one of the patient's reports. * Analysis: The adverbial form `细心地 (xìxīn de)` is used to describe how an action is performed. It shows the doctor's thoroughness and care. * **Example 5:** * 考试的时候一定要**细心**审题，不要看错了。 * Pinyin: Kǎoshì de shíhòu yīdìng yào **xìxīn** shěntí, bùyào kàn cuò le. * English: When taking an exam, you must read the questions carefully and not misread them. * Analysis: This is very common advice given by teachers to students. It links **细心** directly to preventing careless errors. * **Example 6:** * 她的成功不仅因为聪明，更因为她比任何人都**细心**。 * Pinyin: Tā de chénggōng bùjǐn yīnwèi cōngmíng, gèng yīnwèi tā bǐ rènhé rén dōu **xìxīn**. * English: Her success is not only due to her intelligence, but more so because she is more meticulous than anyone else. * Analysis: This sentence elevates **细心** to a key ingredient for success, sometimes even more important than raw intelligence. * **Example 7:** * 我男朋友不够**细心**，总是忘记我们的纪念日。 * Pinyin: Wǒ nánpéngyǒu bùgòu **xìxīn**, zǒngshì wàngjì wǒmen de jìniànrì. * English: My boyfriend isn't attentive enough; he always forgets our anniversary. * Analysis: This shows the negative consequence of lacking **细心** in a relationship. It's framed as a lack of attentiveness and care. * **Example 8:** * 这份工作要求应聘者有耐心，并且**细心**。 * Pinyin: Zhè fèn gōngzuò yāoqiú yìngpìnzhě yǒu nàixīn, bìngqiě **xìxīn**. * English: This job requires applicants to be patient and meticulous. * Analysis: This is a typical sentence you might find in a job description, pairing **细心** with another valued trait, `耐心 (nàixīn)` (patience). * **Example 9:** * 妈妈**细心**地为我整理好了行李。 * Pinyin: Māmā **xìxīn** de wèi wǒ zhěnglǐ hǎo le xínglǐ. * English: My mom carefully packed my luggage for me. * Analysis: This example evokes a feeling of warmth and motherly care. The action is done **细心** (meticulously), which implies love and thoughtfulness. * **Example 10:** * 你再**细心**一点，就会发现问题出在哪里了。 * Pinyin: Nǐ zài **xìxīn** yīdiǎn, jiù huì fāxiàn wèntí chū zài nǎlǐ le. * English: If you are a little more attentive, you will discover where the problem lies. * Analysis: This is a form of encouragement or instruction, suggesting that the solution is in the details if one only looks closely enough. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **细心 (xìxīn) vs. 小心 (xiǎoxīn):** This is the most critical distinction for learners. * **细心 (xìxīn)** is about //attentiveness to detail to achieve a **good** result//. It's proactive and focuses on quality and thoroughness. (e.g., A **细心** editor finds all the typos). * **小心 (xiǎoxīn)** is about //caution to avoid a **bad** result//. It's reactive and focuses on safety and avoiding danger or mistakes. (e.g., "Be careful! The floor is wet!" -> `小心！地很滑！`). * **Incorrect Usage:** You would not say `过马路要细心 (Guò mǎlù yào xìxīn)`. You must say `过马路要小心 (Guò mǎlù yào xiǎoxīn)` (Be careful when crossing the street). * **细心 (xìxīn) vs. 认真 (rènzhēn):** * **认真 (rènzhēn)** means "serious," "conscientious," or "earnest." It describes the //attitude// you have toward a task. You take it seriously. * **细心 (xìxīn)** describes the //method// by which you perform the task. * You can be very **认真** (serious) about your work but still not be **细心** (meticulous), leading you to make careless mistakes despite your best intentions. Ideally, a person should be both. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * **[[粗心]] (cūxīn)** - The direct antonym of **细心**. It means "careless" or "thoughtless" (literally "coarse/rough heart"). * **[[小心]] (xiǎoxīn)** - A related but distinct concept meaning "to be careful" or "to watch out," focused on avoiding danger. * **[[仔细]] (zǐxì)** - A very close synonym for **细心**, also meaning "careful" or "meticulous." They are often interchangeable, though **细心** can sometimes carry a stronger connotation of thoughtfulness. * **[[认真]] (rènzhēn)** - A related quality meaning "serious" or "conscientious." It describes a person's earnest attitude. * **[[周到]] (zhōudào)** - Means "thoughtful" or "considerate," often in the context of service or hospitality. A host who thinks of everything is **周到**. It overlaps with the considerate aspect of **细心**. * **[[体贴]] (tǐtiē)** - Means "considerate" or "to show solicitude," focusing on understanding and caring for someone's emotional or physical needs. It's more about empathy than precision. * **[[耐心]] (nàixīn)** - Means "patience." A quality that often accompanies **细心**, as meticulous work requires patience.