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heikel

fussy, fastidious

adjective HAY-kel Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Quality

Also means

tricky, delicate (of situations)

Usage Note

Heikel has two related senses: of a person, it means overly particular and hard to please (ein heikler Esser = a fussy eater); of a situation or topic, it means delicate and requiring care. Both uses are common across all registers.

Examples

"Das ist ein heikles Thema, über das man besser vorsichtig spricht."

Natural Translation

That is a delicate subject about which it is better to speak carefully.

Literal Translation

That is a delicate topic, about which one better carefully speaks.

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