马马虎虎(馬馬虎虎)
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 & learning.
Also searched as: ma ma hu hu, ma ma hu hu,马马虎虎 meaning, 马马虎虎 in english
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.
When to Use
Situation: His performance in the presentation was just passable, neither impressive nor terrible
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
得心应手
dé xīn yìng shǒu
Work with great ease; have complete mastery
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驾轻就熟
jià qīng jiù shú
Be very familiar with; handle with expertise
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轻车熟路
qīng chē shú lù
Be experienced; find something easy due to familiarity
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游刃有余
yóu rèn yǒu yú
Handle with ease; have skill to spare
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成竹在胸
chéng zhú zài xiōng
Have a well-thought-out plan; be confident
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适可而止
shì kě ér zhǐ
Stop at the right point; practice moderation
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见好就收
jiàn hǎo jiù shōu
Quit while ahead; take profits
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急流勇退
jí liú yǒng tuì
Retire at the peak; know when to quit
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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 theWisdom & 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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