Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Minute; extremely small and fine: Describes something that is very tiny, subtle, or delicate in nature, often to the point of being difficult to perceive or requiring close attention to detail.
   • Meticulous; involving fine detail: Describes work, thought, or analysis that is characterized by great precision and attention to the smallest details.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Công việc này đòi hỏi sự tỉ mỉ và tiêm tế. (This job requires meticulousness and minute attention to detail.)
  • Sự khác biệt tiêm tế giữa hai bản thảo khó mà nhận ra. (The minute difference between the two manuscripts is hard to recognize.)
  • Anh ấy có tư duy rất tiêm tế. (He has a very subtle and fine way of thinking.)

Advanced Usage

• Often used in formal, literary, or academic contexts to describe abstract qualities like differences, thoughts, feelings, or artistic details.
• Can be used to praise someone's refined perception or careful work.

Variants and Related Words

• Ti tỉ (adj): numerous and very tiny.
  • Những hạt sương ti tỉ trên lá. (Countless tiny dewdrops on the leaves.)
• Tinh vi (adj): sophisticated, intricate, complex (often for machinery or schemes).
  • Một cỗ máy tinh vi. (A sophisticated machine.)
• Tế nhị (adj): delicate, tactful (often in social or emotional contexts).
  • Một vấn đề tế nhị. (A delicate issue.)

Synonyms

• Minute: extremely small.
• Subtle: so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe.
• Fine: very thin or precise.
• Meticulous: showing great attention to detail.

Related Idioms

• Tiêm tế đến từng chi tiết: meticulous down to every detail.
  • Người thợ thủ công làm việc tiêm tế đến từng chi tiết. (The artisan works meticulously down to every detail.)