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liánhéSide by side

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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