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三长两短 (sān cháng liǎng duǎn) — (idiom) unexpected misfortune, especially death or serious accident

Definition

Set phrase for an unexpected misfortune — almost always used euphemistically to mean death or a serious accident. Common in the pattern 出三长两短.

idiom
unexpected misfortune, especially death or serious accident

Examples

  • ，三长两短？
    Nǐ yí gè rén qù nà me wēi xiǎn de dì fāng, wàn yī yǒu gè sān cháng liǎng duǎn zěn me bàn?
    If you go to such a dangerous place alone, what if something happens to you?
  • ，三长两短。
    Tā nián jì dà le, jiā rén hěn dān xīn tā chū sān cháng liǎng duǎn.
    He is old, and his family worries that something might happen to him.
  • ，三长两短。
    Zhè cì shǒu shù fēng xiǎn hěn gāo, yī shēng yǐ jīng zuò hǎo le yìng duì sān cháng liǎng duǎn de zhǔn bèi.
    This surgery is very risky; the doctors have prepared for any unexpected misfortune.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

三长
三sānthree长chánglong
偏正Modifier + head
两短
两liǎngtwo短duǎnshort
偏正Modifier + head

三长 and 两短 stand side by side, recalling a coffin's pieces, hence unexpected misfortune.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

三 is drawn as three parallel strokes, like 一 with one stroke and 二 with two.

Open 三 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 長; 长 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 長 pictures an old man with long hair. The simplified 长 is a later shorthand, so its strokes do not show that original picture.

Open 长 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 兩; 两 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 兩 is described as combining 一 and 㒳. The simplified 两 is a later abbreviation.

Open 两 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
矢矢shǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
豆
豆dòu短duǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

短 is built from 矢 and 豆. 豆 is used for its sound, while 矢 is the component linked to the meaning.

Open 短 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesSafety & Danger

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