Meaning
仔细 means to be careful, thorough, or attentive in one's actions or observations. It emphasizes paying close attention to details and being cautious to avoid mistakes. The word conveys both the quality of being meticulous and the manner of doing something with care.
Usage
仔细 is commonly used as an adverb before verbs (仔细看 'look carefully') or as an adjective to describe someone's attitude or approach. It's frequently used in instructions, warnings, or when emphasizing the need for attention to detail. Native speakers often use it in everyday contexts like examining objects, reading documents, or doing precision work.
Examples
- 01你要仔细检查一下这份文件。.You need to carefully check this document.
- 02她做事很仔细，从来不出错。, .She is very meticulous in her work and never makes mistakes.
Characters
Common collocations
- 仔细看to look carefully
- 仔细听to listen carefully
- 仔细检查to inspect carefully
- 仔细考虑to consider carefully
Antonyms
Origin
仔 originally meant 'young animal' or 'offspring' but developed the meaning of being attentive. 细 means 'fine' or 'detailed'. Together they create the compound meaning of careful attention to fine details.