慢慢来 (màn màn lái) — Take your time; don't rush

Definition

Everyday set phrase used to tell someone there's no hurry. Functions as a soft reassurance or advice, often as a standalone sentence or after a clause (你第一次做这个，∼就好).

idiom

Take your timedon't rush

Examples

，慢慢来。
Bié zháo jí, màn màn lái.
Don't worry, take your time.
，慢慢来。
Nǐ dì yī cì zuò zhè ge, màn màn lái jiù hǎo.
You're doing this for the first time, just take your time.
慢慢来，。
màn màn lái, Wǒ men hái yǒu shí jiān.
Take your time, we still have time.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

忄曼慢

Meaning part形符xíngfú

忄Written in full as心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

曼

曼màn慢màn

Same sound today

慢 pairs 忄 (heart) with 曼 (màn). The heart part points to a manner or sluggish behavior, while 曼’s meaning “long, extended” adds the sense of taking a long time.

Open 慢 →

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

忄曼慢

Meaning part形符xíngfú

忄Written in full as心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

曼

曼màn慢màn

Same sound today

慢 pairs 忄 (heart) with 曼 (màn). The heart part points to a manner or sluggish behavior, while 曼’s meaning “long, extended” adds the sense of taking a long time.

Open 慢 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

Open 来 →

Appears in

Idioms & Set Phrases 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.