细枝末节

細枝末節

xìzhī-mòjié

idiom #37,138

Meanings

HSK 7-9

我们应该抓住重点，不要纠缠于细枝末节。

Wǒmen yīnggāi zhuāzhù zhòngdiǎn, bùyào jiūchán yú xìzhī-mòjié.

We should grasp the main point and not get bogged down in trivialities.

HSK 7-9

他对细枝末节过于挑剔，让团队效率很低。

Tā duì xìzhī-mòjié guòyú tiāotī, ràng tuánduì xiàolǜ hěn dī.

He's too picky about minor details, which kills team efficiency.

HSK 7-9

合同的主要条款没问题，剩下的都是细枝末节。

Hétong de zhǔyào tiáokuǎn méiwèntí, shèngxià de dōu shì xìzhī-mòjié.

The main clauses of the contract are fine; what's left is just minor details.

memory

细枝 = small branches, 末节 = the tip-end joints. Both are the parts of a tree furthest from the trunk - easy to forget.

usage

Often paired with 抓住重点 (grasp the main points) or 纠缠 (to fuss over). Slightly negative - implies misplaced focus.

细 xì

枝 zhī

末 mò

节 jié