精耕细作
jīng gēng xì zuò
intensive, painstaking cultivation; to do careful, detailed work
Character by character
精jīng
fine
fine
耕gēng
plough
plough
细xì
careful
careful
作zuò
work
work
Example
这块地虽然不大，但他精耕细作，收成比别人家都好。
The plot is not big, but he farms it with great care, and his harvests are better than anyone else’s.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
The traditional strength of Chinese farming, on small plots worked by hand, as against 广种薄收 (sow wide, reap little). Also used of careful, detailed work in other fields, especially business: 精耕细作市场, 对老客户精耕细作.
Learn this in Lesson 173 · HSK 7–9: 寿光的大棚 (The greenhouses of Shouguang)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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