掉以轻心 diào yǐ qīng xīn take something lightly

Explanation

掉以轻心是指对事情采取轻率的漫不经心的态度，缺乏认真负责的态度，容易犯错误。

To be careless means to take a frivolous and casual attitude towards something, lacking a serious and responsible attitude, which can easily lead to mistakes.

Origin Story

从前，有一个农民，他辛苦地耕种了一片田地，眼看着就要收获了。可是，他却掉以轻心，认为丰收已经板上钉钉了，便不再精心照料田地。一天，一场暴雨突然降临，他的田地被水淹了，辛苦的劳作化为泡影。农民悔恨不已，却也无济于事。

cóng qián, yǒu yī gè nóng mín, tā xīn kǔ de gēng zhòng le yī piàn tián dì, yǎn kàn zhè jiù yào shōu huò le. kě shì, tā què diào yǐ qīng xīn, rèn wéi fēng shōu yǐ jīng bǎn shàng dìng dìng le, biàn bù zài jīng xīn zhào liào tián dì. yī tiān, yī chǎng bào yǔ tú rán jiàng lín, tā de tián dì bèi shuǐ yān le, xīn kǔ de láo zuò huà wéi pào yǐng. nóng mín huǐ hèn bù yǐ, què yě wú jì shì.

Once upon a time, there was a farmer who diligently cultivated a field and was looking forward to the harvest. But he was careless and thought that the harvest was already in the bag, so he no longer took care of the field. One day, a sudden downpour came, and his field was flooded, and his hard work was in vain. The farmer was full of regret, but it was too late.

Usage

这个成语主要用于批评别人做事不认真，缺乏谨慎的态度，容易犯错误。

zhè ge chéng yǔ zhǔ yào yòng yú pī píng bié rén zuò shì bù rèn zhēn, quē fá jǐn shèn de tài dù, róng yì fàn cuò wù.

This idiom is mainly used to criticize others for not taking their work seriously, lacking a cautious attitude, and easily making mistakes.

Examples

• 他工作时总是掉以轻心，经常出错。

  tā gōng zuò shí zǒng shì diào yǐ qīng xīn, jīng cháng cuò wù.

  He is always careless in his work and often makes mistakes.

• 这次考试很重要，千万不能掉以轻心！

  zhè cì kǎo shì hěn zhòng yào, qiān wàn bù néng diào yǐ qīng xīn!

  This exam is very important, we must not take it lightly!

• 对待学习，我们不能掉以轻心，要认真努力。

  duì dài xué xí, wǒ men bù néng diào yǐ qīng xīn, yào rèn zhēn nǔ lì

  We must not take learning lightly, we must work hard.

Related Idioms

• 轻视

• 大意

• 漫不经心

Opposite Idioms

• 谨慎

• 认真

• 严肃