仔细 zǐxì careful
careful; attentive; cautious
How to remember 仔细: 仔 small thing + 细 slender = careful.
Characters
How it is used
- Careful in the sense of thorough and attentive to detail - 仔细看 (zǐxì kàn) look closely, 仔细听 (zǐxì tīng) listen carefully.
- Works as an adverb before a verb (do X carefully) more than as a standalone adjective; 认真 (rènzhēn) stresses earnest/serious effort, 仔细 stresses not missing details.
- Contrast 小心 (xiǎoxīn), which is 'careful = watch out, don't get hurt' - 仔细 is 'careful = meticulous', not about danger.
Example sentences
- 仔细听着。 Zǐxìtīng zhe.Listen carefully.
- 请仔细洗牌。 Qǐng zǐxì xǐpái.Please shuffle the cards carefully.
- 医生仔细检查她的身体。 Yīshēng zǐxì jiǎnchá tā de shēntǐ.The doctor is checking her health carefully.