Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Thorough, meticulous, detailed: Describes an action, explanation, or examination that is done with great attention to every small detail, leaving nothing out.
   • Exhaustive, minute: Characterizes a process of inquiry or analysis that is very comprehensive and precise.

2. Adverb:

   • Thoroughly, in detail, meticulously: Describes the manner of doing something with careful attention to all particulars.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Giáo viên đưa ra một lời giải thích rất cặn kẽ. (The teacher gave a very thorough explanation.)
  • Chúng tôi cần một bản phân tích cặn kẽ hơn. (We need a more detailed analysis.)

• Adverb:

  • Anh ấy giải thích mọi việc rất cặn kẽ. (He explained everything very thoroughly.)
  • Hãy nghiên cứu vấn đề này cho thật cặn kẽ. (Please study this issue in minute detail.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to emphasize the depth and completeness of understanding or instruction.
  • Ông ấy dặn dò cặn kẽ từng bước một trước khi chúng tôi bắt đầu. (He instructed us meticulously on every single step before we began.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kỹ lưỡng (adj): careful, thorough. Often used interchangeably with "cặn kẽ," though "kỹ lưỡng" can sometimes imply prudence, while "cặn kẽ" emphasizes microscopic detail.
• Tỉ mỉ (adj): meticulous, painstaking. Shares a strong overlap with "cặn kẽ" in describing extreme attention to detail.

Synonyms

• Thorough: complete with regard to every detail.
• Detailed: having many details or facts.
• Meticulous: showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
• Exhaustive: including or considering all elements or aspects; fully comprehensive.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Hiểu cặn kẽ: to understand thoroughly, to grasp every detail.

  • Phải hiểu cặn kẽ nguyên nhân vấn đề thì mới giải quyết được. (You must understand the root cause of the problem thoroughly in order to solve it.)

• Dặn dò cặn kẽ: to instruct or advise meticulously.

  • Mẹ tôi thường dặn dò cặn kẽ mỗi khi tôi đi xa. (My mother always gives me meticulous instructions whenever I travel far.)

adj

1. Careful, detailed, minute
   • hiểu cặn kẽ
     to understand every detail