掉以轻心
掉以轻心 (diào yǐ qīng xīn) literally means “handle it with a careless heart” and expresses “lower one's guard”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: diao yi qing xin, diao yi qing xin,掉以轻心 meaning, 掉以轻心 in english
Lower one's guard
Pronunciation: diào yǐ qīng xīn Literal meaning: Handle it with a careless heart
Origin & Usage
Liu Zongyuan of the Tang, writing to a younger man, says of his own composition: 故吾每为文章，未尝敢以轻心掉之，惧其剽而不留也 — I have never dared toss a piece off (掉) with a light (轻) heart (心), fearing it would come out glib and leave nothing behind. The letter's larger subject is whether he will accept the role of teacher, but this sentence is about writing specifically. The phrase warns against casualness in a matter that deserves weight, and it survives almost exclusively in the negative — 不可掉以轻心, one is told not to do it. Modern usage cautions against treating something serious lightly.
Examples
English: "The leading company's complacency allowed competitors to catch up"
Chinese: 领先公司的自满让竞争对手迎头赶上
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
口是心非
kǒu shì xīn fēi
Words differ from thoughts
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呕心沥血
ǒu xīn lì xuè
Invest utmost effort and emotion
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胆大心细
dǎn dà xīn xì
Courage balanced with careful attention
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刻骨铭心
kè gǔ míng xīn
Deeply and permanently affected
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心猿意马
xīn yuán yì mǎ
Restless, unfocused mind
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缘木求鱼
yuán mù qiú yú
Using completely wrong method for a task
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心地善良
xīn dì shàn liáng
Fundamentally kind and virtuous character
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提心吊胆
tí xīn diào dǎn
Constant dread; unable to stop worrying
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 掉以轻心 mean in English?
掉以轻心 (diào yǐ qīng xīn) literally translates to “Handle it with a careless heart” and is used to express “Lower one's guard”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 掉以轻心 used?
Situation: The leading company's complacency allowed competitors to catch up
What is the pinyin for 掉以轻心?
The pinyin pronunciation for 掉以轻心 is “diào yǐ qīng xīn”.
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