‘详谈’ is a verb meaning 'to discuss in detail' or 'to go into depth on a topic.' It combines two characters: 详 (xiáng), meaning 'detailed,' 'thorough,' or 'in-depth,' and 谈 (tán), meaning 'to talk' or 'to discuss.' Together, they emphasize careful, thoughtful conversation—not just casual chatting, but a focused exchange aimed at clarity, understanding, or decision-making.

This word is commonly used in formal, professional, or serious personal contexts—such as business meetings, academic consultations, or important life discussions (e.g., planning a project or resolving a disagreement). It often appears with objects (e.g., 详谈合作细节) or in structures like ‘我们找个时间详谈’ (Let’s find time to discuss this in detail). While it can be used in spoken Chinese, it carries a slightly formal register and is rarely found in very casual speech among friends.