三长两短 sān cháng liǎng duǎn three long and two short

Explanation

指意外的灾祸或事故，特指人的死亡。

It refers to an unexpected disaster or accident, especially the death of a person.

Origin Story

很久以前，有一个名叫李大壮的年轻小伙子，他性格开朗，乐于助人，是村里出了名的热心肠。一天，他听说隔壁村的王老汉家里发生了一场大火，便急急忙忙赶过去帮忙。王老汉家房子已经烧成灰烬，家徒四壁，王老汉一家无家可归。李大壮二话不说，立刻带着王老汉一家来到自己家住下，还把自己的床铺让给了他们。王老汉一家感激涕零，对李大壮的善良和仗义深表感谢。 过了几天，李大壮听说王老汉的儿子外出做生意，遇到了强盗，被人绑架了，李大壮听到消息后，心急如焚，立即带着几个人，前往王老汉儿子被绑架的地方，经过多方打听，终于找到了王老汉的儿子。李大壮为了救出王老汉的儿子，和强盗拼死搏斗，最终战胜了强盗，救出了王老汉的儿子。 李大壮救出王老汉的儿子之后，自己却受了重伤，不幸去世。村民们听说李大壮为了救人而牺牲了自己，都非常难过，纷纷前来为他送行。王老汉一家更是悲痛欲绝，他们为李大壮的善良和勇敢而感动，为他立了一座碑，永远纪念他。 李大壮虽然离开了人世，但他助人为乐的精神，却永远留在人们心中，成为人们学习的榜样。

hěn jiǔ yǐ qián, yǒu yī gè míng jiào lǐ dà zhuàng de nián qīng xiǎo huǒ zi, tā xìng gé kāi lǎng, lè yú zhù rén, shì cūn lǐ chū le míng de rè xīn cháng. yī tiān, tā tīng shuō gé bì cūn de wáng lǎo hàn jiā lǐ fā shēng le yī chǎng dà huǒ, biàn jí jí máng máng gǎn guò qù bāng zhù. wáng lǎo hàn jiā fáng zi yǐ jīng shāo chéng huī jìn, jiā tú sì bì, wáng lǎo hàn yī jiā wú jiā kě guī. lǐ dà zhuàng èr huà bù shuō, lì kè dài zhe wáng lǎo hàn yī jiā lái dào zì jǐ jiā zhù xià, hái bǎ zì jǐ de chuáng pù ràng gěi le tā men. wáng lǎo hàn yī jiā gǎn jī tī líng, duì lǐ dà zhuàng de shàn liáng hé zhàng yì shēn biǎo gǎn xiè. guò le jǐ tiān, lǐ dà zhuàng tīng shuō wáng lǎo hàn de ér zi wài chū zuò shēng yi, yù dào le qiáng dào, bèi rén bǎng jià le, lǐ dà zhuàng tīng dào xiāo xi zhī hòu, xīn jí rú fén, lì jí dài zhe jǐ gè rén, wǎng xiàng wáng lǎo hàn ér zi bèi bǎng jià de dì fāng, jīng guò duō fāng dǎ tīng, zhōng yú zhǎo dào le wáng lǎo hàn de ér zi. lǐ dà zhuàng wèi le jiù chū wáng lǎo hàn de ér zi, hé qiáng dào pīn sǐ bó dòu, zhōng jiū zhèn shèng le qiáng dào, jiù chū le wáng lǎo hàn de ér zi. lǐ dà zhuàng jiù chū wáng lǎo hàn de ér zi zhī hòu, zì jǐ què shòu le zhòng shāng, bù xìng qù shì. cūn mín men tīng shuō lǐ dà zhuàng wèi le jiù rén ér xī shēng le zì jǐ, dōu fēi cháng nán guò, fēn fēn lái qián wèi tā sòng xíng. wáng lǎo hàn yī jiā gèng shì bēi tòng yù jué, tā men wèi lǐ dà zhuàng de shàn liáng hé yǒng gǎn ér gǎn dòng, wèi tā lì le yī zuò bēi, yǒng yuǎn jì niàn tā. lǐ dà zhuàng suī rán lí kāi le rén shì, dàn tā zhù rén wéi lè de jīng shén, què yǒng yuǎn liú zài rén men xīn zhōng, chéng wéi rén men xué xí de bǎng yàng.

Long ago, there was a young man named Li Dazhuang, who was a cheerful and helpful man, known in the village for his kindness. One day, he heard that Wang Laoha's house next door had caught fire, and he hurried over to help. Wang Laoha's house had been burned to ashes, leaving the family destitute and homeless. Li Dazhuang, without a second thought, immediately took Wang Laoha and his family into his own home, even giving them his own bed. Wang Laoha's family were overwhelmed with gratitude and thanked Li Dazhuang for his kindness and generosity. A few days later, Li Dazhuang heard that Wang Laoha's son had been kidnapped by bandits while he was on a business trip. Upon hearing the news, Li Dazhuang was frantic and immediately set out with a few men to the place where Wang Laoha's son had been kidnapped. After much inquiry, they finally found Wang Laoha's son. Li Dazhuang fought desperately against the bandits to rescue Wang Laoha's son, and eventually defeated them, thereby rescuing Wang Laoha's son. After rescuing Wang Laoha's son, Li Dazhuang himself was seriously injured and unfortunately died. When the villagers heard that Li Dazhuang had sacrificed himself to save another person's life, they were deeply saddened and came to pay their respects. Wang Laoha's family was heartbroken. They were moved by Li Dazhuang's kindness and bravery, and erected a monument to him to honor him forever. Although Li Dazhuang has passed away, his spirit of helping others remains forever in people's hearts and serves as a role model for everyone.

Usage

这个成语通常用于表达对人身安全的担忧，希望他人平安无事。

zhè ge chéng yǔ tóng cháng yòng yú biǎo dá duì rén shēn ān quán de dān yōu, xī wàng tā rén píng ān wú shì.

This idiom is often used to express concern for someone's safety and hope that they will be safe and sound.

Examples

• 希望她一切安好，不要发生什么三长两短

  xī wàng tā yī qiè ān hǎo, bù yào fā shēng shén me sān cháng liǎng duǎn

  I hope she is fine and nothing happens to her.

• 我真担心他会出三长两短

  wǒ zhēn dān xīn tā huì chū sān cháng liǎng duǎn

  I'm really worried that something might happen to him.

Related Idioms

• 横祸

• 意外

Opposite Idioms

• 安然无恙

• 平安无事