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细枝末节

細枝末節
xìzhīmòjié
idiom #37,138

Meanings

  1. 1 minor details
  2. 2 trifles
  3. 3 non-essential matters

Examples

我们应该抓住重点，不要纠缠于细枝末节。
Wǒmen yīnggāi zhuāzhù zhòngdiǎn, bùyào jiūchán yú xìzhīmòjié.
We should grasp the main point and not get bogged down in trivialities.
他对细枝末节过于挑剔，让团队效率很低。
Tā duì xìzhīmòjié guòyú tiāotī, ràng tuánduì xiàolǜ hěn dī.
He's too picky about minor details, which kills team efficiency.
合同的主要条款没问题，剩下的都是细枝末节。
Hétong de zhǔyào tiáokuǎn méi wèntí, shèngxià de dōu shì xìzhīmòjié.
The main clauses of the contract are fine; what's left is just minor details.

Tips

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.

Stroke Order

细 xì
枝 zhī
末 mò
节 jié