Describes something physically small or finely divided, or a detailed, meticulous approach. Also used for a stingy, petty attitude toward money or details.
この紙を細かく切ってください。
Please cut this paper into small pieces.
He's stingy about money.
He notices even the smallest details.
あの人はお金に細かい。
That person is stingy with money.
細かな雪が降っている。
Fine snow is falling.
The teacher explained the procedure in detail.
大まか means rough or broad-strokes (ignoring small details), the opposite of 細か's focus on fine 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-.