细致 (xì zhì) is an adjective meaning 'meticulous', 'thorough', or 'fine-grained' — describing attention to small details and careful execution. The first character, 细 (xì), literally means 'fine', 'thin', or 'detailed'; the second, 致 (zhì), conveys 'to achieve', 'to bring about', or 'precision'. Together, they form a compound that emphasizes diligent, painstaking care in observation, planning, or work — not just being 'careful', but actively noticing and handling subtleties others might overlook.

This word is commonly used to describe people (e.g., a meticulous colleague), processes (e.g., detailed inspection), or outcomes (e.g., finely crafted work). It carries a positive, respectful connotation and appears frequently in professional, academic, and daily life contexts — such as describing someone’s handwriting, a teacher’s feedback, or a scientist’s methodology. Unlike casual terms like 认真 (rèn zhēn, 'serious'), 细致 implies a higher degree of granularity and sustained focus on minute elements.