zi2 sai3仔細仔细

Jyutpingzi2 sai3

Yalejí sai

形容詞Common

Definition

Careful, attentive, and detailed.

colloquialdescriptionsdaily actions

How it's used

While often used to describe a person's character or work style, it frequently appears with the particle 啲 to soften the tone when giving instructions. It implies a level of thoroughness that goes beyond just being cautious, focusing on the ability to notice minute details that others might overlook.

Examples

nei5你zou6做je5嘢jiu3要zi2仔sai3細di1啲，m4唔hou2好gam3咁daai6大ji3意。

You need to be more careful when working, don't be so careless.

keoi5佢tai2睇dak1得hou2好zai2仔sai3細，lin4連go3個sai3細wai6位dou1都gin3見dou2到。

He looked at it very carefully, even noticing the small details.

Common phrases

zi2仔sai3細tai2睇

look carefully

zi2仔sai3細nam2諗

think carefully

Common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse this with 小心, which focuses more on safety and avoiding danger. Use 仔細 when talking about the quality of attention to detail in a task, whereas 小心 is better for warnings about potential harm or mistakes.