粗心大意
cū xīn dà yì
Carelessness and negligence
Describes someone who is negligent or careless in their actions or thoughts. It refers to a lack of attention to detail, often leading to mistakes or oversights.
What does 粗心大意 (cū xīn dà yì) mean?
粗心大意 (cū xīn dà yì) means "carelessness and negligence" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "rough heart, big intention."
Character by character
- 粗 cū rough, coarse
- 心 xīn heart, mind
- 大 dà big, great
- 意 yì intention, idea
When to use it
Commonly used to criticize or point out someone's lack of carefulness. It can apply to tasks, studies, or general conduct where attention is required.
Example
老师责备我粗心大意。
Lǎoshī zébèi wǒ cū xīn dà yì.
The teacher scolded me for my carelessness.
Pro tip: Often implies a habitual lack of diligence rather than an isolated mistake. It suggests a general disposition to be inattentive.
Related idioms
不知所措 · Feeling at a loss出生入死 · Risking life and limb大打出手 · Physical altercation
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