carping; to nitpick over trivialities
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesverb phrase
to nitpick; to dwell on trivial details; to enumerate petty matters tediously
formalCriticizes someone for being overly meticulous about minor, insignificant points, often in a formal or bureaucratic context. Equivalent to 毛举细务.
Zài在
tǎo讨
lùn论
dà大
fāng方
xiàng向
shí时
，
bù不
yào要
máo毛
jǔ举
xì细
gù故
，
jiū纠
chán缠
yú于
wú无
guān关
jǐn紧
yào要
de的
xì细
jié节
。
When discussing the general direction, don't nitpick and get bogged down in irrelevant details.
Zhè这
fèn份
bào报
gào告
xiě写
de得
hěn很
hǎo好
，
dàn但
píng评
yuè阅
zhě者
què却
máo毛
jǔ举
xì细
gù故
，
tiāo挑
le了
xiē些
pái排
bǎn版
shàng上
de的
xiǎo小
máo毛
bìng病
。
This report is well written, but the reviewer nitpicked and pointed out some minor formatting issues.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
Lǐng领
dǎo导
zài在
huì会
shàng上
tí提
xǐng醒
dà大
jiā家
，
yào要
zhuā抓
zhù住
zhòng重
diǎn点
，
bì避
miǎn免
máo毛
jǔ举
xì细
gù故
，
làng浪
fèi费
shí时
jiān间
。
The leader reminded everyone at the meeting to focus on the key points and avoid nitpicking to save time.
Tā他
wéi为
rén人
kē苛
kè刻
，
duì对
xià下
shǔ属
de的
bào报
gào告
zǒng总
shì是
máo毛
jǔ举
xì细
gù故
，
ràng让
rén人
yā压
lì力
hěn很
dà大
。
He is a harsh person, always nitpicking over his subordinates' reports, which creates a lot of pressure.
Zhè这
zhǒng种
máo毛
jǔ举
xì细
gù故
de的
zuò做
fǎ法
，
wú无
zhù助
yú于
jiě解
jué决
hé核
xīn心
wèn问
tí题
。
This nitpicking approach does not help solve the core problem.