‘详细’ (xiáng xì) is an adjective meaning ‘detailed’ or ‘thorough,’ describing information, explanations, descriptions, or plans that are comprehensive, precise, and leave little to the imagination. The first character 详 (xiáng) conveys ‘fullness’ or ‘completeness’—as in ‘to elaborate’—while 细 (xì) means ‘fine,’ ‘minute,’ or ‘meticulous,’ emphasizing attention to small elements. Together, they form a compound that stresses both breadth and depth of coverage.

This word is commonly used in academic, professional, and everyday contexts—such as giving instructions, writing reports, describing procedures, or asking for clarification. It often modifies nouns (e.g., 详细的说明, ‘a detailed explanation’) or follows verbs like 提供 (tígōng, ‘to provide’) or 写 (xiě, ‘to write’). Unlike standalone adjectives like 好 (hǎo), 详细 typically requires a noun or context to anchor its meaning—it rarely stands alone as a predicate without additional phrasing (e.g., 不够详细 is natural; *很详细 is possible but usually needs a referent like ‘this plan is very detailed’).