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马马虎虎 (mǎ ma hū hu) — careless, sloppy, slapdash; so-so, fair, mediocre (in quality)

Definition

An idiom that can describe careless work or a so-so result — meaning shifts with context. Often reduplicated as a fixed phrase; tone is casual and informal.

bound form
carelesssloppyslapdashso-sofairmediocre (in quality)

Examples

  • 马马虎虎，。
    Tā zuò shì zǒng shì mǎ ma hū hu, jīng cháng chū cuò.
    He always does things carelessly and often makes mistakes.
  • 马马虎虎，。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng wǒ jué de mǎ ma hū hu, méi shén me tè bié.
    I think this movie is just so-so, nothing special.
  • 马马虎虎，。
    Bié zhè me mǎ ma hū hu de, zài jiǎn chá yí biàn.
    Don't be so careless — check it one more time.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

马马
马mǎ马mǎ
虎虎
虎hǔ虎hǔ

The repeated 马 and 虎 form a careless or merely so-so manner.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 馬; 马 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 馬 shows a horse with its head facing left, a flowing mane, and two legs standing vertically.

Open 马 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 馬; 马 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 馬 shows a horse with its head facing left, a flowing mane, and two legs standing vertically.

Open 马 →

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

虎 originally drew a tiger's head. Its body disappeared, and the legs and tail became the lower part.

Open 虎 →

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

虎 originally drew a tiger's head. Its body disappeared, and the legs and tail became the lower part.

Open 虎 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesPersonality & TraitsGood & Bad

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