三三两两 sān sān liǎng liǎng in twos and threes

Explanation

形容数量不多，几个人、几个东西在一起。

Describes a small number of people or things that are together.

Origin Story

在一个阳光明媚的下午，小明和小丽在公园里散步。他们一边欣赏着美丽的景色，一边聊着天。突然，小明指着远处说：“看，那里有一群小鸟，三三两两地在树枝上跳跃，好可爱啊！”小丽也顺着他的手指望去，果然看到了一群小鸟，它们正三三两两地站在树枝上，有的在梳理羽毛，有的在互相追逐，有的在欢快地唱歌。小明和小丽被这群小鸟的活泼可爱深深地吸引住了，他们决定在这里多待一会儿，静静地观察这些可爱的小鸟。 不知不觉，太阳已经开始西沉了。小明和小丽依依不舍地离开了公园，他们把今天看到的美丽景色和活泼可爱的鸟儿都深深地记在了心里。

zài yī gè yáng guāng míng mèi de xià wǔ, xiǎo míng hé xiǎo lì zài gōng yuán lǐ sǎn bù. tā men yī biān xīn shǎng zhè mèi lì de jǐng sè, yī biān liáo zhè tiān. tú rán, xiǎo míng zhǐ zhè yuǎn chù shuō: “kàn, nà lǐ yǒu yī qún xiǎo niǎo, sān sān liǎng liǎng de zài shù zhī shàng tiào yuè, hǎo kě ài a!” xiǎo lì yě shùnzhe tā de shǒu zhǐ wàng qù, guǒrán kàn dào le yī qún xiǎo niǎo, tā men zhèng sān sān liǎng liǎng de zhàn zài shù zhī shàng, yǒu de zài shū lǐ yǔ máo, yǒu de zài hù xiāng zhuī zhú, yǒu de zài huān kuài de chàng gē. xiǎo míng hé xiǎo lì bèi zhè qún xiǎo niǎo de huó pò kě ài shēn shēn de xī yǐn zhù le, tā men jué dìng zài zhè lǐ duō dài yī huì er, jìng jìng de guān chá zhè xiē kě ài de xiǎo niǎo. Bù zhī bù jué, tài yáng yǐ jīng kāi shǐ xī chén le. xiǎo míng hé xiǎo lì yī yī bù shě de lí kāi le gōng yuán, tā men bǎ jīntiān kàn dào de mèi lì jǐng sè hé huó pò kě ài de niǎo er dōu shēn shēn de jì zài le xīn lǐ.

On a sunny afternoon, Xiaoming and Xiaoli were taking a walk in the park. They were admiring the beautiful scenery and chatting. Suddenly, Xiaoming pointed to the distance and said, “Look, there’s a group of little birds, hopping around on the branches in twos and threes, so cute!” Xiaoli also looked in the direction he was pointing, and sure enough, she saw a group of little birds. They were standing on the branches in twos and threes, some were preening their feathers, some were chasing each other, and some were singing happily. Xiaoming and Xiaoli were deeply attracted by the lively and lovely little birds. They decided to stay here a little longer and quietly observe these cute little birds. Unconsciously, the sun had already begun to set. Xiaoming and Xiaoli left the park reluctantly. They had deeply imprinted the beautiful scenery and the lively and lovely birds they saw today in their hearts.

Usage

形容人数或事物不多，三三两两地在一起，可以用来表示数量较少，也可以用来表示分散的状态。

xiáoróng rénshù huò shìwù bù duō, sān sān liǎng liǎng de zài yī qǐ, kě yǐ yòng lái biǎoshì shù liàng jiào shǎo, yě kě yǐ yòng lái biǎoshì fēnsàn de zhuàng tài.

Describes a small number of people or things that are together in small groups. It can be used to indicate a small number, but also to describe a dispersed state.

Examples

• 公园里三三两两的人在散步。

  gōng yuán lǐ sān sān liǎng liǎng de rén zài sǎn bù.

  People are walking in the park in twos and threes.

• 今天晚上聚餐的人三三两两地来了。

  jīntiān wǎnshàng jù cān de rén sān sān liǎng liǎng de lái le.

  People came to dinner tonight in twos and threes.

Related Idioms

• 稀稀拉拉

• 零零星星

Opposite Idioms

• 密密麻麻