微細|びさいbisai[0]heiban (flat)

1. na-adjective, nounminute; fine; detailed; subtle
   キャンバスのオイルはとても微細びさいな花はなびらを描えがけない。↗

   Oil on canvas can never paint a petal so delicate.

• Synonym細かいこまかいNeutralThe everyday word for fine, small detail; also covers trivial matters and fussing over them. 「微細」 is the more written, technical term.
• Synonym微小びしょうWrittenWritten word for something very small, as in 「微小な変化」; it stresses smallness alone, while 「微細」 stresses fineness and detail.
• Synonym極小きょくしょうWrittenWritten term for extremely small; in mathematics it also means a local minimum. Strongly academic.
• Synonym細密さいみつWrittenWritten word for extremely fine, intricate work, said mainly of pictures and descriptions; it stresses intricacy, not tiny particle size.
• Synonym細かこまかNeutralMeans small or detailed, usually as 「細かな」 or 「細かに」; at home in both written and spoken Japanese.
• Synonym極微きょくびWrittenAcademic term for infinitesimally small; also the smallest unit into which matter can be divided.
• Synonym詳密しょうみつWrittenWritten word for detailed and thorough; it stresses exhaustive, meticulous explanation and is not used for small physical size.
• Synonym細微さいびWrittenWritten word for minute and slight amounts; it can also refer to lowly status. Very rarely used.
• Related繊細せんさいNeutralFor slender, delicate things and especially sensitive feelings and senses; it stresses delicacy where 「微細」 stresses extremely small size.
• Related零細れいさいNeutralDescribes very small scale, as in 「零細企業」; it is about scale, not fine physical detail.
• Related小さいちいさいNeutralThe most common word for small; 「微細」 stresses being so small you have to look closely to see it.
• RelatedささやかNeutralDescribes tender, attentive care and thoughtfulness, and also deep color; the focus is on fine feeling, not tiny size.
• Relatedきめ細かきめこまかNeutralDescribes a fine, smooth texture, and figuratively meticulous, attentive service, as in 「きめ細かな対応」.
• RelatedちっちゃいCasualColloquial 'tiny', with an affectionate feel; 「微細」 is a written, technical description.
• RelatedちっこいCasualColloquial 'tiny' with a regional flavor; not used in formal settings.
• RelatedちいちゃいCasualChildish colloquial word for small, with a cute nuance.
• Antonym巨大きょだいNeutralAntonym: huge, enormous — the direct opposite of the extremely fine 「微細」.

Use 「微細」 for extremely fine, tiny things, as in 「微細な粒子」 or 「微細な違い」; it leans written and technical. In daily speech say 「細かい」 or 「小さい」. For delicate feelings or senses use 「繊細」; for sheer smallness 「微小」; for fine texture or attentive service 「きめ細か」; for tender care 「細やか」. Academic contexts take 「極小」「極微」; fine pictures or descriptions 「細密」; exhaustive detail 「詳密」. 「細か」, usually as 「細かな」, fits both speech and writing. Casual speech: 「小っちゃい」「小っこい」「小ちゃい」; small-scale businesses: 「零細」. Antonym: 「巨大」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 極きわめて細こまかいこと。また、そのさま。
2. 身分みぶんや地位ちいが低ひくくこと。