| 精雕细刻 |
jīng diāo - xì kè |
lit. fine sculpting (idiom) / fig. to work (at sth) with extreme care and precision |
| 精 |
jīng |
essence / extract / vitality / energy / semen / sperm / mythical goblin spirit / highly perfected / elite / the pick of sth / proficient (refined ability) / extremely (fine) / selected rice (archaic) |
| 雕 |
diāo |
variant of 雕, to engrave |
| 雕 |
diāo |
to carve / to engrave / shrewd / bird of prey |
| 雕 |
diāo |
bird of prey |
| 细 |
xì |
thin or slender / finely particulate / thin and soft / fine / delicate / trifling / (of a sound) quiet / frugal |
| 刻 |
kè |
quarter (hour) / moment / to carve / to engrave / to cut / oppressive / classifier for short time intervals |