粗心大意 (cū xīn dà yì)

adjective / idiom HSK 4

cū xīn dà yì

careless · thoughtless · inattentive

Meaning

This four-character idiom describes someone who is careless, negligent, or not paying attention to details. It emphasizes a lack of carefulness in thinking or action, often resulting in mistakes. The phrase combines 粗心 (careless heart/mind) with 大意 (careless/negligent), reinforcing the meaning through repetition.

Usage

Commonly used to criticize someone's careless behavior or to describe a personality trait. Often appears in phrases like 因为粗心大意 (because of carelessness) when explaining mistakes. Can be used both seriously and in lighter self-deprecating contexts. Slightly more formal than just using 粗心 alone.

Examples

01
他因为粗心大意把钥匙落在了办公室。
Tā yīn wèi cū xīn dà yì bǎ yào shi là zài le bàn gōng shì.
He left his keys in the office because of his carelessness.
02
考试的时候千万不要粗心大意。
Kǎo shì de shí hou qiān wàn bù yào cū xīn dà yì.
Never be careless during exams.

Characters

Common collocations

因为粗心大意
yīn wèi cū xīn dà yì
because of carelessness
太粗心大意了
tài cū xīn dà yì le
too careless
粗心大意的错误
cū xīn dà yì de cuò wù
careless mistake

Antonyms

Origin

The term combines two synonymous expressions: 粗心 (literally 'rough heart/mind') and 大意 (literally 'big intention,' meaning inattentive). This doubling is a common Chinese idiom pattern that emphasizes and strengthens the core meaning.