✨ 语义深度解析 ⋮
delicate
高考核心词 作文加分词 难度 1/5 ⏱ 2 分钟
核心
精致的；微妙的；脆弱的——需要细心对待，或精巧纤细
释义
1
adj.精致的，细腻的（外观或味道）
The museum's collection includes a set of eighteenth-century porcelain figurines noted for their delicate craftsmanship and remarkably fine detail.
博物馆的藏品包括一套十八世纪瓷器小雕像，以其精致的工艺和非常细腻的细节而著称。
2
adj.微妙的，棘手的（情况或事项）
Negotiating a trade agreement between countries with such different economic interests requires delicate diplomacy and a willingness to make mutual concessions.
在经济利益如此不同的国家之间谈判贸易协议需要微妙的外交手腕和相互妥协的意愿。
3
adj.脆弱的，娇弱的（身体或物品）
The archivist handled the ancient manuscripts with extreme care, aware of how delicate centuries-old paper can be.
档案管理员极为小心地处理古代手稿，深知几百年历史的纸张是多么脆弱。
语感
a delicate balance（微妙的平衡）；a delicate situation（微妙/棘手的情况）；delicate health（虚弱的身体）；delicate flavour（细腻的味道）；handle a delicate issue（处理棘手问题）
精致的，细腻的（delicate features = 精致的五官）微妙的，棘手的（a delicate matter = 棘手的事）脆弱的，娇弱的（delicate health = 虚弱的身体）
陷阱
⚠️delicate（微妙的，含贬义）vs. subtle（微妙的，中性/正面）
The negotiations broke down partly because neither side was willing to acknowledge the delicate political considerations that shaped the other's position.
✗
delicate = subtle（完全等同）
✓
delicate（微妙的，含「需要小心处理」之意，常暗示「稍有不慎即会出问题」：a delicate situation = 棘手的情况；delicate negotiations = 需谨慎处理的谈判）；subtle（微妙的，强调「不明显，需细心感知」：a subtle difference = 细微的差别；subtle humour = 含蓄的幽默；不含「危险」的意思）；此句 delicate political considerations = 微妙（需谨慎处理）的政治考量，比 subtle 更强调「敏感性」
谈判部分因双方都不愿承认塑造对方立场的微妙政治考量而破裂。（delicate = 需谨慎处理的微妙；vs. subtle = 不明显的微妙）
⚠️delicate（脆弱）vs. fragile（易碎）——程度和语境不同
✗
The new peace agreement remains extremely delicate, and any provocative action by either side could cause it to collapse entirely.
新的和平协议仍然极为脆弱，任何一方的挑衅行为都可能导致其完全崩溃。（delicate = 微妙需谨慎；fragile = 易碎；在和平语境两者均可，语气略有不同）
delicate（脆弱/微妙，需小心维护：a delicate peace = 脆弱而需维护的和平；delicate balance = 微妙的平衡）；fragile（易碎，强调「容易破裂」：a fragile ceasefire = 脆弱的停火；fragile economy = 脆弱的经济）；两者在「和平/协议」语境均可用：delicate peace 强调「需要细心呵护」；fragile peace 强调「容易破裂」；此句 delicate 正确
✓
The new peace agreement remains extremely fragile, and any provocative action by either side could cause it to collapse entirely.
新的和平协议仍然极为脆弱，任何一方的挑衅行为都可能导致其完全崩溃。（fragile = 强调「容易破裂」；delicate 也可用，强调「需细心维护」）
近义辨析
delicate vs subtle
delicate delicate（微妙的，含「需小心处理、敏感性高」之意：a delicate issue = 棘手的问题；a delicate balance = 微妙的平衡；可含「精致、脆弱」义） subtle subtle（微妙的，强调「不明显、难以察觉」：a subtle difference = 细微差别；subtle flavour = 淡雅的味道；subtle irony = 含蓄的讽刺；无「危险」或「脆弱」含义）
The mediator's role was to navigate the delicate political tensions between the two parties without triggering a complete breakdown of talks.
调解人的角色是在不引发谈判彻底破裂的情况下化解两党之间微妙的政治紧张关系。
The report identified only subtle differences in the test scores between the two groups, suggesting the intervention had a limited effect.
报告发现两组测试分数之间只有细微的差异，表明干预效果有限。
写作加分
✨ 加分词
替换：carefulsensitivehard to deal with
政策分析话题国际关系话题社会问题议论文
普通
The relationship between economic growth and environmental protection is hard to balance.
经济增长与环境保护之间的关系很难平衡。
加分 ✨
Sustaining the delicate balance between economic development and environmental protection requires policymakers to make difficult trade-offs — prioritising short-term growth risks long-term ecological costs that are far harder to reverse.
维持经济发展与环境保护之间的微妙平衡要求政策制定者做出艰难取舍——优先考虑短期增长有损难以逆转的长期生态代价的风险。
常用搭配
a delicate balance微妙的平衡（maintain / upset a delicate balance）
a delicate situation / issue / matter微妙/棘手的情况/事项
delicate negotiations / diplomacy微妙的谈判/外交
delicate health / constitution虚弱的身体/体质
delicate features / embroidery精致的五官/刺绣
词根
delicate = 「如瓷器般」（拉丁 delicatus = 令人愉悦的，纤细的）→ 精致如瓷器（delicate porcelain）= ①美丽纤细；②一碰就碎（脆弱）；③放在桌上要小心（微妙）；三义都来自「需要细心对待」
考考你
Q1对错判断
判断下面句子里的用法是否正确：
The diplomat urged both parties to approach the delicate issue of territorial boundaries with restraint and mutual respect.
delicate issue（微妙/棘手的问题）用法正确；approach...with restraint = 以克制处理；territorial boundaries = 领土边界；此句语法和词汇均正确
Q2近义选词
选择最恰当的词填空：
The statistician noted only ___ variations in the data across different demographic groups, none of which reached statistical significance.
Adelicate
Bsubtle
✓ 统计学家注意到不同人口群体的数据中只有细微的差异，没有一个达到统计显著性。
subtle variations（细微的差异）比 delicate variations 更自然；subtle 强调「不明显、需细心感知」；统计数据差异用 subtle differences/variations；delicate 更用于「需谨慎处理的微妙情况」，不用于描述数据差异
Q3义项辨析
下面四个句子中，delicate 的含义与其他三个最不同的是：
A
The diplomat handled the delicate territorial dispute with remarkable skill, preventing further escalation.
B
Her delicate constitution meant she had to take particular care to avoid cold and damp environments.
C
The delicate balance between freedom of expression and protection from harm lies at the heart of many contemporary policy debates.
D
Addressing inequality requires delicate negotiations between social groups whose interests do not always align.
B 中 delicate = 脆弱的，娇弱的（delicate constitution = 虚弱的体质，指健康）；A 中 delicate = 微妙的，棘手的（领土争端）；C 中 delicate = 微妙的（微妙的平衡）；D 中 delicate = 微妙的（微妙的谈判）
接着学
点击进入该词的深度解析
fragile近义易碎的，脆弱的（fragile peace = 脆弱的和平；fragile economy = 脆弱的经济；比 delicate 更强调「容易破裂/损坏」）
robust反义强健的，稳健的（a robust economy = 强健的经济；robust health = 强健的身体；delicate 的反义：脆弱 vs. 强健）
intricate近义复杂精密的（intricate design = 复杂精密的设计；intricate mechanism = 精密机制；比 delicate 更强调「复杂精细」）
sensitivity近义敏感性（political sensitivity = 政治敏感性；a matter requiring sensitivity = 需要敏感处理的事；与 delicate issue 的「微妙棘手」义相关）