delicate

adj. 微妙的；精美的，雅致的；柔和的；易碎的；纤弱的；清淡可口的

中文词源

delicate 脆弱的，精美的

词源同delicious, 美味的。引申义精美的，脆弱的。

delicate: delicate: [14] Delicate comes either from Old French delicat or direct from its source, Latin dēlicātus, but its ultimate history is obscure. Its formal similarity to delicious and delight, and the fact that ‘addicted to pleasure’ was one of the meanings of Latin dēlicātus, suggest that the three words may have an ancestor in common. Delicatessen [19] was borrowed from German delikatessen, plural of delikatesse ‘delicacy’, which in turn was acquired by German from French délicatesse.
=> delicatessen
delicate (adj.): late 14c., "self-indulgent, loving ease; delightful; sensitive, easily hurt; feeble," from Latin delicatus "alluring, delightful, dainty," also "addicted to pleasure, luxurious, effeminate;" which is of uncertain origin; related by folk etymology (and perhaps genuinely) to deliciae "a pet," and delicere "to allure, entice" (see delicious). Meaning "easily broken" is recorded from 1560s.

1. 光滑的(皮肤，丝绸)，精致的(五官)，纤细的(身材)，娇弱的，(颜色味道)淡淡的，精细的(尤指眼科手术).2. deli谐音“黛丽”(黛玉美丽)，并且林黛玉身体纤弱。

2. Their marriage is a delicate balance between traditional and contemporary values.: 他们的婚姻在传统和现代价值观之间保持着微妙平衡。

4. Each motion must be delicate and precise, involving tiny movements.: 每一个动作都必须小心、准确，一点点地移动。

5. The furniture was stiff, uncomfortable, too delicate, and too neat.: 家具又硬又不舒服，太不结实而且太小巧。