丢三落四
diū sān là sì
Habitual forgetfulness · trad. 丟三落四
Describes someone who is habitually absent-minded or careless, often misplacing items or forgetting details. It characterizes a person prone to leaving things behind or overlooking important matters due to a lack of attention.
What does 丢三落四 (diū sān là sì) mean?
丢三落四 (diū sān là sì) means "habitual forgetfulness" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "lose three, drop four."
Character by character
- 丢 diū lose, misplace
- 三 sān three
- 落 là drop, leave behind
- 四 sì four
When to use it
Often used to describe individuals who are disorganized or scatterbrained. It can be used in a slightly critical but often lighthearted or exasperated tone, implying a recurring pattern of forgetfulness rather than a one-off mistake.
Example
他办事很糊涂,常常丢三落四。
Tā bànshì hěn hútu, chángcháng diū sān là sì.
He's very muddled when doing things and often forgets or misplaces them.
Pro tip: The numbers 'three' and 'four' in the idiom are not meant literally; they simply convey the idea of losing or forgetting multiple things in a disorganized manner, emphasizing general carelessness rather than specific quantities.
Related idioms
大手大脚 · Extravagant spending habits顶天立地 · A person of integrity独一无二 · Sole and unique existence
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