马马虎虎
马马虎虎 (mǎ mǎ hǔ hǔ) literally means “horse horse tiger tiger” and expresses “just so-so or passable quality”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: ma ma hu hu, ma ma hu hu,马马虎虎 meaning, 马马虎虎 in english
Just so-so or passable quality
Pronunciation: mǎ mǎ hǔ hǔ Literal meaning: Horse horse tiger tiger
Origin & Usage
This moderate assessment idiom, literally 'horse (马) horse tiger (虎) tiger,' emerged from a folk tale about a careless artist whose painting was neither clearly a horse nor a tiger. During the Qing Dynasty, it appeared in vernacular literature describing casual or imprecise work. The repeating animals - both powerful creatures in Chinese culture - create an ironic contrast where their combination produces mediocrity rather than excellence. Modern usage describes acceptable but unmemorable performance across various contexts, expressing a particularly Chinese cultural tolerance for the passable middle ground.
Examples
English: "His performance in the presentation was just passable, neither impressive nor terrible"
Chinese: 他在演讲中的表现只是马马虎虎，既不出色也不糟糕
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 马马虎虎 mean in English?
马马虎虎 (mǎ mǎ hǔ hǔ) literally translates to “Horse horse tiger tiger” and is used to express “Just so-so or passable quality”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 马马虎虎 used?
Situation: His performance in the presentation was just passable, neither impressive nor terrible
What is the pinyin for 马马虎虎?
The pinyin pronunciation for 马马虎虎 is “mǎ mǎ hǔ hǔ”.
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