Cool MateDelicate vs Fine
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Delicate
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
Fine
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Most common: Fine
| Delicate | Fine | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdelɪkət/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdelɪkət/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/faɪn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/faɪn/"]/ |
| Meaning | Easily broken or damaged; fragile. | Okay or good; no problems. |
| Example | The delicate porcelain vase shattered when it fell from the shelf. | The weather today is just fine for a picnic. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very | be, feel, look, absolutely, completely, physically, be, look, seem, absolutely, completely, just, for, be, look, seem, absolutely, completely, just, for, be, turn out, keep, be, extremely, fairly, very |
| Antonyms | sturdy, robust, strong | poor, bad, terrible |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'delicious' — they sound similar but have different meanings., Using 'delicate' to describe something strong or resilient., Omitting context; remember 'delicate' usually refers to physical or emotional sensitivity. | Confused with 'find' — make sure to use 'fine' for quality., Using 'fine' instead of 'fined' when referring to a penalty., 'Fine' is often overused; sometimes a stronger word is better. |
| Usage notes | Use 'delicate' to describe things that require careful handling, like fine china or fragile emotions. It’s generally appropriate in a variety of contexts but avoid using it in overly casual speech. | Use 'fine' in everyday conversation when something is acceptable or satisfactory. It can be both positive and neutral. Avoid using it in very formal contexts or when discussing serious issues. |
Frequently asked questions: Delicate vs Fine
What's the difference between Delicate and Fine?
Delicate: Easily broken or damaged; fragile. Fine: Okay or good; no problems.
Which is more common: Delicate and Fine?
Fine is the most common in everyday English.
Are Delicate and Fine the same CEFR level?
Delicate: C1, Fine: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Delicate and Fine interchangeably?
Not always. Delicate and Fine are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.