細さい

noun

detail; minute particulars

Primarily used in the idiomatic expression 微に入り細を穿つ (びにいりさいをうがつ), meaning 'to go into minute details' or 'to be extremely meticulous'. Rarely used as a standalone noun in modern Japanese; 詳細 (しょうさい) is the common word for 'details'.

See also: 微に入り細を穿つ

• 彼かれの説せつ明めいは微びに入いり細さいを穿うがつものだった。

  His explanation was extremely detailed, going into every minute particular.

• 「細さい」は単たん独どくではあまり使つかわれず、「微びに入いり細さいを穿うがつ」という成せい句くで見みられる。

  The word 細 is rarely used alone; it is seen in the set phrase 微に入り細を穿つ.