粗心大意
粗心大意 (cū xīn dà yì) literally means “coarse heart, broad intention” and expresses “careless; negligent”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: cu xin da yi, cu xin da yi,粗心大意 meaning, 粗心大意 in english
Careless; negligent
Pronunciation: cū xīn dà yì Literal meaning: Coarse heart, broad intention
Origin & Usage
A coarse (粗) heart (心) and a broad (大) intention (意). Both halves say the same thing about grain: the attention is set too wide a mesh, so small things pass through it. That is why the phrase describes a standing disposition rather than a single lapse, and Chinese distinguishes it from stupidity — the person is not incapable, they are simply not looking closely. It is the standard comment on careless examination mistakes.
Examples
English: "His carelessness caused the crucial error in the report."
Chinese: 他的粗心大意导致报告中出现了关键错误。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
心猿意马
xīn yuán yì mǎ
Restless, unfocused mind
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称心如意
chèn xīn rú yì
Perfectly satisfying every expectation
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一心一意
yī xīn yī yì
Wholeheartedly; with undivided attention
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胆大心细
dǎn dà xīn xì
Courage balanced with careful attention
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口是心非
kǒu shì xīn fēi
Words differ from thoughts
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心地善良
xīn dì shàn liáng
Fundamentally kind and virtuous character
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心平气和
xīn píng qì hé
Calm and composed; even-tempered
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掉以轻心
diào yǐ qīng xīn
Lower one's guard
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 粗心大意 mean in English?
粗心大意 (cū xīn dà yì) literally translates to “Coarse heart, broad intention” and is used to express “Careless; negligent”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 粗心大意 used?
Situation: His carelessness caused the crucial error in the report.
What is the pinyin for 粗心大意?
The pinyin pronunciation for 粗心大意 is “cū xīn dà yì”.