詳しい

くわしい

detailed

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The adjective "詳しい" (くわしい) means "detailed" or "thorough." It is used to describe information, explanations, knowledge, or descriptions that are rich in detail and depth.

Common Contexts

You often see "詳しい" used when talking about explanations, knowledge, or descriptions that go beyond the surface level. For example, a "詳しい説明" means a detailed explanation, and "詳しい地図" means a map with many details.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 詳しい説明 (くわしいせつめい): detailed explanation
  • 詳しい情報 (くわしいじょうほう): detailed information
  • 詳しく知る (くわしくしる): to know in detail
  • 詳しい地図 (くわしいちず): detailed map

These collocations are common in both spoken and written Japanese, often in formal or neutral contexts.

Nuances and Tips

Using "詳しい" implies that the speaker or subject has deep or precise knowledge about something. It is more specific than just "知っている" (to know). Be careful not to confuse "詳しい" with "詳しく" which is the adverb form used to modify verbs.

Common Mistake

Learners sometimes confuse "詳しい" with "細かい" (こまかい), which also means "detailed" but is more about smallness or fineness of parts rather than depth of information. Use "詳しい" when emphasizing thoroughness or completeness of information.

Example Sentences

かれはれきしについてくわしいせつめいをしてくれた。

He gave a detailed explanation about history.

くわしいちずをもっているので、まよわずにいけます。

Since I have a detailed map, I can go without getting lost.

かのじょはそのもんだいについてくわしくしっている。

She knows the problem in detail.