马马虎虎
mǎ mǎ hǔ hǔ
Careless and sloppy · trad. 馬馬虎虎
Describes actions or attitudes that are careless, superficial, or lacking in thoroughness. It can also refer to something that is just passable or mediocre, not excellent but not terrible.
What does 马马虎虎 (mǎ mǎ hǔ hǔ) mean?
马马虎虎 (mǎ mǎ hǔ hǔ) means "careless and sloppy" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "like a horse, like a tiger."
Character by character
- 马 mǎ horse
- 马 mǎ horse
- 虎 hǔ tiger
- 虎 hǔ tiger
When to use it
Often used to criticize someone's work ethic or the quality of their output when it falls short of expectations due to a lack of attention or effort. It can also be used self-deprecatingly to describe one's own average performance.
Example
这样马马虎虎的工作习惯决不能生产出优质产品来。
Zhèyàng mǎ mǎ hǔ hǔ de gōngzuò xíguàn juébùnéng shēngchǎn chū yōuzhìchǎnpǐn lái.
Working carelessly like that will never produce high-quality products.
Pro tip: The repetition of characters emphasizes the lack of clear distinction or thoroughness, leading to the meaning of being perfunctory or just "so-so."
Related idioms
了如指掌 · Complete understanding乱七八糟 · Utter disorder闷闷不乐 · Gloomy and unhappy
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