HSK · Level 123
47 words
Chinese word
小心翼翼
Pronunciation
Pinyinxiǎo xīn yì yì
Meaning
- idiomcautiously
Example
他小心翼翼地检查了合同。tā xiǎo xīn yì yì dì jiǎn chá le hé tóng
He cautiously checked the contract.
More examples
她小心翼翼地把玻璃杯放回了架子上。tā xiǎo xīn yì yì dì bǎ bō lí bēi fàng huí le jià zi shàng
She carefully put the glass back on the shelf.
Core concept
Movements stay controlled, as if one careless step could spoil something important.
Common phrases
小心翼翼地保存xiǎo xīn yì yì dì bǎo cún
carefully store
小心翼翼地放回xiǎo xīn yì yì dì fàng huí
carefully put back
小心翼翼地搬运xiǎo xīn yì yì dì bān yùn
carefully carry
Similar words
小心谨慎xiǎo xīn jǐn shèn: In a cautious way that pays close attention and avoids careless mistakes.
如履薄冰rú lǚ bó bīng: In a highly cautious way that avoids danger at every step.
Definition in Chinese
形容做事时非常谨慎，注意细节，不冒险或鲁莽。xíng róng zuò shì shí fēi cháng jǐn shèn zhù yì xì jié bú mào xiǎn huò lú mǎng
Word origin
小心翼翼 (xiǎoxīnyìyì, "cautiously") combines 小心 (xiǎoxīn, "careful") with the older expression 翼翼 (yìyì, "cautious and respectful"), intensifying the sense of careful conduct.
Usage tips
- In conversational Chinese, this idiom commonly modifies a verb to describe the manner of an action, not a lasting personality trait.
Other meanings
- carefullyidiom
Opposites
- 掉以轻心diào yǐ qīng xīnlet one's guard downidiom
- 粗心大意cū xīn dà yìbe carelessidiom
Related words
- 小心翼翼地xiǎo xīn yì yì dìcautiouslyadverb