Chinese word

细微

Pronunciation

Pinyinxì wēi

Meaning

  • adjectiveslight

Example

我们之间有细微的误会。wǒ men zhī jiān yǒu xì wēi de wù huì

There is a slight misunderstanding between us.

Illustration for 细微 (slight)

More examples

这两个产品之间存在细微的差别。zhè liǎng gè chán pǐn zhī jiān cún zài xì wēi de chā bié

There is a slight difference between these two products.

Core concept

A real but almost invisible amount of difference, movement, or effect.

Common phrases

  • 细微的差别xì wēi de chā bié

    slight difference

  • 细微的变化xì wēi de biàn huà

    slight change

  • 细微的影响xì wēi de yíng xiǎng

    slight effect

Similar words

微妙wēi miào: Describes a subtle state or difference that is hard to judge or handle.
轻微qīng wēi: Describes an effect or change that is small and mild.
微小wēi xiǎo: Describes a size or amount that is extremely small.
微弱wēi ruò: Describes force or influence that is very weak.

Definition in Chinese

很小以致难以注意到的状态，常用于描述差别、问题或变化的轻微程度。hén xiǎo yǐ zhì nán yǐ zhù yì dào de zhuàng tài cháng yòng yú miáo shù chā bié wèn tí huò biàn huà de qīng wēi chéng dù

Word origin

细微 (xìwēi, "tiny and faint") joins 细 (xì, "fine") with 微 (wēi, "minute"), narrowing the idea of smallness to something delicate and difficult to detect.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this word can soften talk about a problem or misunderstanding by showing that it is real but limited in degree.

Other meanings

  • tinyadjective
  • faintadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word