If someone is meticulous, they are very careful about small details and they want everything done correctly. A meticulous student checks every number; a meticulous cook follows the recipe to the gram.

If someone is meticulous如果一個人很 meticulous they are very careful about small details他會非常注意小細節 and they want everything done correctly而且希望每件事都做得正確。A meticulous student一個一絲不苟的學生 checks every number會檢查每一個數字 a meticulous cook一個一絲不苟的廚師 follows the recipe to the gram會照食譜精確到每一克。

In modern English this is usually praise: it names care, not fear. It is a little formal, but you will hear it in schools, offices, and reviews, not only in books.

In modern English在現代英文裡 this is usually praise這通常是稱讚 it names care, not fear講的是細心，不是害怕。It is a little formal這個字有點正式 but you will hear it in schools, offices, and reviews但你會在學校、辦公室和評論裡聽到 not only in books不只是在書裡。

Tone can tilt it: said warmly, it means “beautifully careful”; said with a sigh, it can mean “almost too picky.” Though actually, the older Latin word behind it meant “full of fear.” The “careful about details” meaning came in through French méticuleux, and that is the meaning English settled on. Today almost nobody hears “afraid” in meticulous.

Tone can tilt it語氣可以讓它偏向不同意思：said warmly溫暖地說 it means beautifully careful意思是「細心得很漂亮」 said with a sigh嘆著氣說 it can mean almost too picky可能意思是「幾乎太挑剔了」。Though actually不過其實 the older Latin word behind it meant full of fear它背後更早的拉丁字原意是「充滿恐懼」 the careful about details meaning came in through French méticuleux「注重細節」這個意思是透過法文 méticuleux進來的 and that is the meaning English settled on而這就是英文最後定下來的意思。Today almost nobody hears afraid in meticulous今天幾乎沒有人會在 meticulous裡聽出「害怕」的意思。