Describes something physically small or finely divided, or a detailed, meticulous approach. Also used for a stingy, petty attitude toward money or details.
He's stingy about money.
Please cut this paper into small pieces.
He notices even the smallest details.
That person is stingy with money.
Fine snow is falling.
The teacher explained the procedure in detail.
粗い describes something coarse or roughly textured, the physical opposite of 細か's fine, finely-divided sense.
small; fine; minute · minor; trivial; insignificant · sensitive; attentive to detail · careful with money; frugal; stingy
detailed; minute; in great detail
smooth; fine-textured · meticulous; painstaking; detailed
smooth; fine-textured · meticulous; painstaking; detailed
minutely; finely; in detail
in detail; minutely; thoroughly
Standard kanji spelling; used in news and common writing.
Kana spelling is common in casual writing and when the kanji is not needed.
Derived from the classical adjective 細し (こまし), meaning 'fine' or 'detailed'. The na-adjective form 細か developed from the stem 細か-.