马虎
careless; sloppy
mǎhu
What does 马虎 mean?
马虎 (mǎhu) is a colloquial adjective meaning careless, sloppy, or done without proper attention. Note that the second syllable 虎 is toneless here, so it is pronounced mǎhu, not mǎhǔ. It describes a person's attitude ('he's careless') or the quality of work ('the job was done sloppily'), and often carries a light, forgivable tone rather than a serious accusation.
Unlike English 'careless,' which implies an isolated lapse, 马虎 frequently describes a habitual personality trait — someone who is 马虎 by nature. It also has a second, idiomatic use: in the phrase 马马虎虎 (mǎmǎhūhū), it means 'so-so' or 'passable,' a very common answer to 'How was it?' Literally the word is 'horse-tiger,' from a folk story about a painter who drew an animal that was neither horse nor tiger.
Note: Everyday spoken word, mildly critical rather than harsh. In a written report you would more likely see 粗心 (cūxīn) or 不认真 (bù rènzhēn).
Character breakdown
horse
tiger
Memory hook: A painting that's half 'horse' and half 'tiger' — clearly the artist wasn't paying attention. That's 马虎.
Example sentences
他做事太马虎了。
Tā zuòshì tài mǎhu le.
He's way too careless in how he does things.
spoken
这次考试我很马虎，错了三道题。
Zhè cì kǎoshì wǒ hěn mǎhu, cuò le sān dào tí.
I was careless on this exam and got three questions wrong.
neutral
你最近过得怎么样？马马虎虎吧。
Nǐ zuìjìn guò de zěnmeyàng? Mǎmǎhūhū ba.
How've you been lately? So-so, I guess.
spoken
这么重要的事，不能马虎。
Zhème zhòngyào de shì, bù néng mǎhu.
Something this important — you can't be sloppy about it.
neutral
Common phrases with 马虎
Synonyms
粗心 focuses on inattention that leads to mistakes (missing details). 马虎 is broader and more colloquial, covering both attitude and habit. A student who makes calculation errors is 粗心; someone whose whole approach to work is lazy is 马虎.
随便 means 'casual / whatever / not particular.' 马虎 specifically implies a lack of care that lowers quality. 随便 can be neutral or even easygoing; 马虎 is mildly negative.
Don't confuse 马虎 with
麻烦 (troublesome; hassle) sounds a bit similar to beginners but means 'trouble,' not 'careless.' 马虎 describes an attitude; 麻烦 describes a difficulty.
FAQ
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