麻痹大意 má bì dà yì complacency

Explanation

麻痹大意是指因粗心大意而失去警惕性，容易导致失败或损失。它强调的是一种心理状态，缺乏警觉性和谨慎性。

Complacency refers to losing vigilance due to carelessness and negligence, which can easily lead to failure or loss. It emphasizes a mental state characterized by a lack of alertness and caution.

Origin Story

话说三国时期，蜀汉丞相诸葛亮率军北伐，与魏军在五丈原对峙。诸葛亮深知魏军主将司马懿老奸巨猾，深谋远虑，因此他日夜操劳，不敢有丝毫麻痹大意。然而，魏军却采取了坚壁清野的策略，始终龟缩不出，这让诸葛亮逐渐放松了警惕。他认为魏军不敢与自己正面交锋，于是开始在军营里打起了牌，甚至在深夜饮酒作乐，忘记了时刻保持警惕。然而，司马懿正是利用了诸葛亮的麻痹大意，在诸葛亮不注意的时候，魏军突然发起猛攻，蜀军猝不及防，损失惨重。最终诸葛亮积劳成疾，病逝五丈原。

huà shuō sān guó shí qī, shǔ hàn chéng xiàng zhū gé liàng shuài jūn běi fá, yǔ wèi jūn zài wǔ zhàng yuán duì zhì. zhū gé liàng shēn zhī wèi jūn zhǔ jiāng sī mǎ yì lǎo jiān jù huá, shēn móu yuǎn lǜ, yīn cǐ tā rì yè cāo láo, bù gǎn yǒu sī háo má bì dà yì. rán ér, wèi jūn què cǎi qǔ le jiān bì qīng yě de cè lǜ, shǐ zhōng guī suō bù chū, ràng zhū gé liàng zhú jiàn fàng sōng le jǐng tì. tā rèn wéi wèi jūn bù gǎn yǔ zì jǐ zhèng miàn jiāo fēng, yú shì kāi shǐ zài jūn yíng lǐ dǎ qǐ le pái, shèn zhì zài shēn yè yǐn jiǔ zuò lè, wàng jì le shí kè bǎo chí jǐng tì. rán ér, sī mǎ yì zhèng shì lì yòng le zhū gé liàng de má bì dà yì, zài zhū gé liàng bù zhù yì de shí hòu, wèi jūn tū rán fā qǐ měng gōng, shǔ jūn cù bù jí fáng, sǔn shī cǎn zhòng. zuì zhōng zhū gé liàng jī láo chéng jí, bìng shì wǔ zhàng yuán

During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of Shu Han, led his troops on a northern campaign and confronted the Wei army at Wuzhangyuan. Zhuge Liang knew that Sima Yi, the main general of the Wei army, was cunning and far-sighted, so he worked day and night, not daring to be complacent. However, the Wei army adopted the strategy of scorched earth, always shrinking back and not showing itself. This made Zhuge Liang gradually relax his guard. He believed that the Wei army dared not clash with him head-on, so he started to play cards in the camp and even drank and had fun late at night, forgetting to maintain constant vigilance. However, Sima Yi was precisely taking advantage of Zhuge Liang's complacency; when Zhuge Liang was not paying attention, the Wei army suddenly launched a fierce attack, the Shu army was caught off guard and suffered heavy losses. In the end, Zhuge Liang died of overwork and illness in Wuzhangyuan.

Usage

常用来形容一个人做事粗心大意，缺乏警惕性，容易犯错误。

cháng yòng lái xíngróng yīgè rén zuò shì cūxīn dàyì, quēfá jǐngtì xìng, róngyì fàn cuòwù

It is often used to describe a person who is careless and lacks vigilance, easily making mistakes.

Examples

• 面对挑战，我们决不能麻痹大意。

  miàn duì tiǎozhàn, wǒmen jué bù néng má bì dà yì

  We must not be complacent in the face of challenges.

• 这次考试，我因为麻痹大意，结果考砸了。

  zhè cì kǎoshì, wǒ yīnwèi má bì dà yì, jiéguǒ kǎo zá le

  I failed the exam because of my carelessness.

• 敌人正在虎视眈眈，我们千万不能麻痹大意。

  dírén zhèng zài hǔshì dāndān, wǒmen qiānwàn bù néng má bì dà yì

  The enemy is watching, we must not be complacent at all costs..

Related Idioms

• 掉以轻心

• 漫不经心

• 粗心大意

• 疏忽大意

Opposite Idioms

• 谨慎小心

• 警惕性高

• 全神贯注