At the A1 level, you only need to know that '粗心' (cūxīn) means 'careless.' It is used in very simple sentences to describe people or actions. You will mostly hear it in the classroom or at home. For example, '我很粗心' (I am careless). You should focus on the contrast between '粗心' and '细心' (careful). At this stage, don't worry about the complex grammar; just use it as a basic adjective after '很' (very) or '太' (too). You might use it to explain why you made a mistake in your Chinese character writing. It is a helpful word for apologizing for small errors. Remember the pronunciation: 'cū' is first tone (flat and high), and 'xīn' is also first tone. This makes it sound very steady. Think of it as 'coarse heart'—not being gentle or precise with your thoughts.
At the A2 level, you should start using '粗心' in more complex sentence patterns. You should be able to use the '的' (de) particle to describe people, such as '粗心的学生' (a careless student). You should also learn to use '粗心地' (carelessly) to describe how someone did an action, like '粗心地写错了' (carelessly wrote it wrong). You will encounter this word frequently in HSK 2 or 3 materials, especially in stories about students or daily life. It's important to recognize that '粗心' is a common reason for failure in tests. You should also be able to compare people using '比' (bǐ), for example, '他比我粗心' (He is more careless than me). This level requires you to understand that '粗心' is generally negative and relates to a lack of attention to detail.
By B1, you should be able to distinguish '粗心' from its synonyms like '马虎' (mǎhu) and '大意' (dàyì). You should understand that '粗心' is a general term for carelessness, while '马虎' often implies a sloppy attitude and '大意' implies overconfidence. You will see '粗心' used in more formal contexts, such as work evaluations or news reports about minor accidents. You should also be familiar with the four-character idiom '粗心大意' (cūxīn dàyì), which emphasizes a high degree of carelessness. At this level, you can use the word to discuss personality traits and their consequences in a more abstract way. For instance, you might write an essay about how '粗心' can affect one's career. You should also be comfortable using it in resultative constructions and with various adverbs of degree like '极其' (jíqí - extremely) or '格外' (géwài - especially).
At the B2 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of '粗心' in professional and social settings. You should recognize when '疏忽' (shūhu) is a more appropriate choice for formal 'negligence' or 'oversight.' You will encounter '粗心' in literature and more advanced listening materials where the tone might be sarcastic or deeply critical. You should be able to use the word in complex conditional sentences, such as '如果不是因为他太粗心,这个项目早就会成功了' (If it weren't for him being too careless, this project would have succeeded long ago). You should also understand the cultural weight of the word in the context of the Chinese education system and the high value placed on '认真' (conscientiousness). Your usage should be natural, including the use of modal particles like '嘛' or '呢' to convey specific emotions when calling someone '粗心'.
At the C1 level, your use of '粗心' should be indistinguishable from a native speaker. You should understand its use in classical-leaning modern prose and how it interacts with other psychological descriptors. You can analyze the etymological roots of '粗' and '心' and discuss how this reflects Chinese philosophical views on the mind and attention. You should be able to identify '粗心' in legal or technical documents where it might be used to describe a specific type of human error. You will also be able to use related idioms like '粗枝大叶' (cū zhī dà yè - literally 'thick branches and big leaves,' meaning crude or careless) and explain the subtle differences in imagery compared to '粗心.' Your ability to switch between '粗心,' '马虎,' '大意,' and '疏忽' based on the register and the specific nature of the 'carelessness' should be fluid.
At the C2 level, you possess a complete mastery of '粗心' and its place within the vast landscape of Chinese synonyms for negligence. You can discuss the word's usage in historical texts and how its meaning has evolved. You understand the subtle social dynamics involved in accusing someone of being '粗心' vs. '大意' in high-stakes environments like politics or high-level business. You can use the word in sophisticated wordplay or literary metaphors. You are aware of regional variations in how carelessness is described and can adapt your vocabulary accordingly. At this level, you don't just know the word; you understand the 'coarse heart' as a concept in Chinese thought, contrasting it with the ideal of a 'fine' and 'focused' mind in various philosophical traditions. You can provide deep linguistic analysis of the word's role in the language.

粗心 en 30 segundos

  • 粗心 (cūxīn) is a common Chinese adjective meaning 'careless' or 'thoughtless,' used when someone misses details.
  • It is the direct opposite of 细心 (xìxīn), which means 'meticulous' or 'careful' with details.
  • The word is frequently used in schools, offices, and daily life to describe avoidable mistakes.
  • Grammatically, it functions as a predicate, attributive, or adverb when followed by the particle '地'.

The Chinese word 粗心 (cūxīn) is a foundational adjective that every learner of Mandarin must master, particularly those aiming for the CEFR A2 level and beyond. At its core, it translates to 'careless,' 'thoughtless,' or 'negligent.' To understand the word deeply, one should look at its constituent characters. The first character, 粗 (cū), originally referred to 'coarse' or 'rough' grains of rice. In a metaphorical sense, it describes anything that lacks refinement, detail, or precision. The second character, 心 (xīn), means 'heart' or 'mind.' Therefore, 粗心 literally describes a 'coarse mind'—a state of being where one's attention is not fine-tuned to the details of a task or situation.

Core Usage
It is predominantly used to describe a person's character trait or a specific instance where someone has made a mistake due to a lack of attention. For example, if a student misses a simple math question, a teacher might say they were cūxīn.

他因为粗心而写错了名字。 (He wrote the wrong name because of carelessness.)

In Chinese culture, being cūxīn is often viewed as a significant but fixable flaw. It is the opposite of 细心 (xìxīn), which means 'careful' or 'meticulous' (literally 'fine heart'). While 'careless' in English can sometimes imply a lack of caring about the outcome, 粗心 in Chinese specifically targets the failure to notice details. You might care very much about your exam, but if you misread 'plus' as 'minus,' you are being cūxīn. This distinction is vital for learners to grasp.

这份工作需要你非常仔细,千万不能粗心。 (This job requires you to be very careful; you absolutely must not be careless.)

Grammar Note
As an adjective, it can be modified by degree adverbs like 很 (hěn - very), 太 (tài - too), or 非常 (fēicháng - extremely).

你太粗心了,又忘了带钥匙。 (You are too careless, you forgot your keys again.)

The word is versatile. It can be used in the classroom to describe a student's work, in the office to describe a colleague's report, or at home to describe a family member's oversight. It is not necessarily a harsh insult, but rather a common observation of human error. It is frequently used in self-criticism as well, where one admits to a mistake by saying '是我粗心了' (It was my carelessness).

我真粗心,竟然没看到这条消息。 (I'm so careless, I actually didn't see this message.)

Social Context
In professional settings, being labeled as 'cūxīn' is a warning. It implies that while you are capable, your lack of precision is causing issues. It's a call for '认真' (rènzhēn - conscientiousness).

老板批评他工作太粗心。 (The boss criticized him for being too careless in his work.)

Using 粗心 correctly involves understanding its role as an adjective and its various grammatical placements. It can function as a predicate, an attributive, or even part of a resultative construction. Let's break down these patterns to ensure you can communicate your thoughts accurately in Mandarin.

As a Predicate
In its simplest form, you can use 'Subject + Adverb + 粗心' to describe someone. Note that in Chinese, we usually include an adverb like '很' (hěn) even if we don't mean 'very.'

那个孩子很粗心。 (That child is very careless.)

When you want to emphasize a specific mistake, you can use the '太...了' structure. This is very common when expressing frustration or giving feedback.

你这次考试太粗心了! (You were too careless in this exam!)

As an Attributive
To describe a person or a thing, use '粗心 + 的 + Noun.' This identifies the noun as possessing the quality of carelessness.

他是一个粗心的人。 (He is a careless person.)

Wait, what if you want to say someone did something carelessly? You can use the adverbial marker '地' (de) to turn the adjective into an adverb: '粗心地 + Verb.'

粗心地填错了表格。 (He carelessly filled out the form incorrectly.)

The 'Due to' Structure
In more formal or explanatory contexts, you will see '因为 (yīnwèi) ... 粗心 ... 所以 (suǒyǐ)'. This clearly links the trait to the consequence.

因为他的粗心,公司损失了很多钱。 (Because of his carelessness, the company lost a lot of money.)

Furthermore, you can use 粗心 in a comparative sense. 'A 比 B 粗心' (A is more careless than B). This is useful for describing differing personalities between siblings or coworkers.

哥哥比弟弟粗心。 (The older brother is more careless than the younger brother.)

Finally, consider the negative form. To say someone is not careless, you say '不粗心' (bù cūxīn). However, it is much more natural and common to use the positive antonym '细心' (xìxīn) instead of saying 'not careless.'

In the daily life of a Chinese speaker, 粗心 is ubiquitous. It’s a word that bridges the gap between childhood and adulthood, appearing in almost every social sphere where precision matters. Understanding where you’ll encounter it will help you recognize its nuances and the level of severity it carries in different contexts.

In the Education System
This is arguably the most common environment for the word. In China, academic performance is highly valued, and 'careless mistakes' are the bane of every student's existence. Teachers use cūxīn to describe why a smart student failed to get a perfect score.

老师说我不是不会做,而是太粗心了。 (The teacher said it's not that I don't know how to do it, but that I was too careless.)

You will hear parents lecturing their children after an exam, emphasizing that '粗心' is a habit that needs to be broken. It’s often paired with the advice to '检查' (jiǎnchá - check/inspect) your work multiple times.

下次写完作业,别这么粗心,多检查几遍。 (Next time you finish your homework, don't be so careless; check it a few more times.)

In the Workplace
In professional environments, the word takes on a more serious tone. If a manager calls an employee cūxīn, it is a formal critique of their professionalism. It suggests that the employee is not taking their responsibilities seriously enough.

在会计行业,粗心是大忌。 (In the accounting industry, carelessness is a major taboo.)

At Home and Socially
Between friends or family, cūxīn is used for everyday lapses—forgetting an umbrella, leaving the stove on, or missing a turn while driving. It can be said with a teasing tone or with genuine concern.

你怎么又把钥匙锁在屋里了?真粗心! (How did you lock the keys in the house again? So careless!)

You will also hear it in TV dramas and movies, often during a moment of realization where a character discovers they missed a crucial clue or detail. It’s a word that signifies a human moment of fallibility.

医生说,手术中一点也不能粗心。 (The doctor said there can be no carelessness at all during the surgery.)

While 粗心 seems straightforward, English speakers often encounter a few pitfalls when trying to integrate it into their natural Chinese. These mistakes usually stem from direct translation or confusion with similar-sounding or similar-meaning words.

Confusion with 粗鲁 (cūlǔ)
Both words start with '粗' (coarse), but they describe very different behaviors. 粗心 is about a lack of attention (careless), whereas 粗鲁 is about a lack of manners (rude/rough).

Wrong: 他说话很粗心。 (Intending to say 'He speaks rudely' but saying 'He speaks carelessly'). Correct: 他说话很粗鲁

Another common error is using 粗心 to describe a person who is 'lazy.' While a careless person might seem lazy, the two are distinct. A lazy person (懒 - lǎn) doesn't want to work, while a careless person works but makes mistakes. Using the wrong term can lead to misunderstandings about someone's character.

Overusing 粗心 for 'Negligent'
In formal or legal contexts, 'careless' is often better translated as 疏忽 (shūhu). 粗心 is slightly more colloquial and personal. If a company fails to maintain safety standards, it's '疏忽,' not just '粗心.'

Correct: 这次事故是因为管理疏忽。 (This accident was due to management negligence.)

Learners also sometimes forget the 'de' particle. When using 粗心 to describe how an action was performed, you must use '地.' Without it, the sentence sounds grammatically incomplete or awkward.

Wrong: 他粗心写错了。 Correct: 他粗心地写错了。 (He carelessly wrote it wrong.)

The 'Texture' Trap
Remember that '粗' alone means 'coarse' or 'thick' (like a rope). Don't use '粗心' to describe the physical thickness of an object. For a thick rope, just use '粗的绳子' (cū de shéngzi).

Wrong: 这根绳子很粗心。 Correct: 这根绳子很

Finally, avoid using 粗心 to mean 'unconscious' or 'fainted.' Even though '心' (heart/mind) is involved, it only refers to the quality of attention, not the state of consciousness.

To truly sound native, you must know when to use 粗心 and when to choose a more specific synonym. Chinese is rich with words for 'carelessness,' each with a slightly different flavor. Let's compare 粗心 with its closest relatives.

粗心 vs. 马虎 (mǎhu)
马虎 is perhaps the most common synonym. It literally means 'horse-tiger' and refers to doing something in a sloppy, perfunctory way. While cūxīn is a lack of attention, mǎhu often implies a lack of effort or 'just getting it done' without caring about quality.

他做事很马虎,总是应付了事。 (He does things sloppily, always just doing the bare minimum.)

Then there is 大意 (dàyì). This word focuses on being 'careless through overconfidence.' You might be a very careful person usually, but you '大意了' in a specific moment because you thought it was too easy. It's often used in sports or competitive contexts.

粗心 vs. 疏忽 (shūhu)
疏忽 is more formal and refers to an 'oversight' or 'omission.' It’s the word you use when a professional failure occurs. It sounds more objective and less like a character judgment than cūxīn.

因为一时的疏忽,他丢了工作。 (Because of a momentary oversight, he lost his job.)

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have the antonyms. While 细心 (xìxīn) is the direct opposite, you might also use 认真 (rènzhēn) (serious/conscientious) or 谨慎 (jǐnshèn) (cautious/prudent). If you are describing someone who never makes mistakes, 谨慎 is a much stronger and more positive word than just 'not 粗心.'

Idiomatic Alternatives
Native speakers often use four-character idioms (chengyu) to describe extreme carelessness, such as 粗心大意 (cūxīn dàyì) or 丢三落四 (diū sān là sì) (literally 'drop three leave four,' meaning extremely forgetful/scatterbrained).

他这个人总是丢三落四的。 (This guy is always forgetting things/being scatterbrained.)

In summary, while 粗心 is your 'go-to' word for CEFR A2, expanding your vocabulary to include 马虎, 大意, and 疏忽 will allow you to describe the 'why' and 'how' of a mistake with much greater precision.

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

The character '粗' contains the 'rice' radical (米), suggesting that its original meaning was very physical—referring to the texture of food before it was applied to the texture of a person's thoughts.

Guía de pronunciación

UK /tsʰuː˥ ɕin˥/
US /tsu˥ ʃin˥/
In Mandarin, both syllables carry equal stress as they are both first tone.
Rima con
亲 (qīn) 新 (xīn) 心 (xīn) 金 (jīn) 今 (jīn) 音 (yīn) 宾 (bīn) 民 (mín)
Errores comunes
  • Pronouncing 'c' like an English 'k' or 's'. It must be 'ts'.
  • Failing to aspirate the 'c'.
  • Pronouncing 'x' like a hard English 'sh' (as in 'shoe'). It should be softer.
  • Changing the tones (e.g., making 'xin' a falling tone).
  • Confusing 'cu' with 'qu'.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 2/5

Characters are relatively simple to recognize for A2 learners.

Escritura 3/5

The character '粗' has several strokes, requiring practice.

Expresión oral 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward as long as tones are correct.

Escucha 2/5

Very common word, easy to pick out in conversation.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

Aprende después

细心 马虎 大意 认真 错误

Avanzado

疏忽 谨慎 草率 缜密 一丝不苟

Gramática que debes saber

Adjective as Predicate

他很粗心。

Adjective with 'De' as Attributive

粗心的孩子。

Adverbial 'De' (地)

粗心地写。

Comparative with 'Bi' (比)

我比他粗心。

Exclamatory 'Tai...le' (太...了)

太粗心了!

Ejemplos por nivel

1

我不粗心。

I am not careless.

Simple negative sentence using '不'.

2

他很粗心。

He is very careless.

Adjective predicate with '很'.

3

你粗心吗?

Are you careless?

Simple question with '吗'.

4

老师说我粗心。

The teacher said I am careless.

Subject + Verb + Object clause.

5

太粗心了!

Too careless!

Exclamatory '太...了' structure.

6

谁很粗心?

Who is very careless?

Question with '谁'.

7

我不喜欢粗心的人。

I don't like careless people.

Adjective as an attributive with '的'.

8

粗心不好。

Being careless is not good.

Adjective used as a noun/subject.

1

这个学生非常粗心。

This student is extremely careless.

Using '非常' for emphasis.

2

因为粗心,我写错了字。

Because of carelessness, I wrote the character wrong.

Cause and effect with '因为'.

3

他是一个粗心的孩子。

He is a careless child.

'的' used to link adjective and noun.

4

你为什么这么粗心?

Why are you so careless?

Question with '为什么' and '这么'.

5

别粗心,再看一遍。

Don't be careless, look at it again.

Imperative '别' (don't).

6

他总是粗心地丢东西。

He always carelessly loses things.

Adverbial '地' used with a verb.

7

我比他粗心一点儿。

I am a little more careless than him.

Comparative '比' with '一点儿'.

8

粗心的人容易犯错。

Careless people make mistakes easily.

General statement about a type of person.

1

粗心大意是他的老毛病。

Carelessness is his old bad habit.

Using the idiom '粗心大意'.

2

他这次考试因为粗心丢了十分。

He lost ten points in this exam because of carelessness.

Specifying the consequence of the action.

3

做会计工作绝对不能粗心。

You absolutely cannot be careless when doing accounting work.

Using '绝对不能' for strong prohibition.

4

他粗心地把手机留在出租车上了。

He carelessly left his phone in the taxi.

Complex sentence with '把' construction.

5

虽然他很聪明,但是太粗心了。

Although he is very smart, he is too careless.

Concessive '虽然...但是' structure.

6

为了不粗心,他检查了三遍。

In order not to be careless, he checked it three times.

Purpose clause '为了'.

7

这种粗心的错误是可以避免的。

This kind of careless mistake is avoidable.

Passive potential '是可以...的'.

8

你这次表现得有点儿粗心。

You performed a bit carelessly this time.

Complement of degree using '得'.

1

粗心不仅会害了自己,还会影响别人。

Carelessness not only harms oneself but also affects others.

Correlative '不仅...还'.

2

他平时的细心掩盖了偶尔的粗心。

His usual meticulousness covers up his occasional carelessness.

Abstract subject and verb usage.

3

如果你再这么粗心,我就没法信任你了。

If you are this careless again, I won't be able to trust you.

Conditional '如果...就'.

4

他粗心大意地签了那份合同。

He carelessly signed that contract.

Idiom used as an adverb.

5

这种粗心简直是不可原谅的。

This kind of carelessness is simply unforgivable.

Using '简直' for extreme emphasis.

6

他在细节上的粗心导致了整个计划的失败。

His carelessness in the details led to the failure of the entire plan.

Noun phrase as a complex subject.

7

我们不能因为一时的粗心而前功尽弃。

We cannot let all our previous efforts go to waste because of a moment's carelessness.

Idiom '前功尽弃' with cause clause.

8

他总觉得粗心是小事,其实不然。

He always thinks carelessness is a small matter, but actually it's not.

Contrast using '其实不然'.

1

这种粗枝大叶的作风反映了他的粗心。

This crude style of work reflects his carelessness.

Using advanced synonym '粗枝大叶'.

2

他在学术研究中表现出的粗心令人担忧。

The carelessness he showed in his academic research is worrying.

Complex attributive clause.

3

粗心往往是由于缺乏责任感造成的。

Carelessness is often caused by a lack of sense of responsibility.

Passive '是由于...造成的'.

4

面对如此严峻的形势,我们绝不能有半点粗心。

Faced with such a grim situation, we must not have even a hint of carelessness.

Emphasis '半点...也/都'.

5

他试图通过细心的表象来掩饰内心的粗心。

He tried to hide his inner carelessness through an appearance of meticulousness.

Nuanced psychological description.

6

粗心的人很难在精密工程领域有所建树。

It is difficult for careless people to achieve anything in the field of precision engineering.

Formal '有所建树' (to achieve something).

7

他的粗心已经到了令人发指的地步。

His carelessness has reached an outrageous level.

Idiomatic expression of degree.

8

我们应当深刻反省这次粗心带来的教训。

We should deeply reflect on the lesson brought by this carelessness.

Formal '深刻反省' (deeply reflect).

1

粗心之弊,不在于智识之短,而在于心性之浮。

The flaw of carelessness lies not in a lack of intelligence, but in a flighty character.

Classical Chinese sentence structure.

2

纵观历史,因统帅粗心而致全军覆没者不在少数。

Throughout history, there are many instances where an entire army was wiped out due to the commander's carelessness.

Formal historical analysis register.

3

他那种近乎病态的粗心,实际上是潜意识的回避。

That almost pathological carelessness of his is actually a subconscious avoidance.

Psychological/Academic register.

4

在处理国际关系时,一丁点的粗心都可能酿成外交风波。

When handling international relations, even a tiny bit of carelessness could lead to a diplomatic crisis.

High-level political context.

5

粗心与大意虽为近义,但在法律责任的认定上却有天壤之别。

Although 'carelessness' and 'negligence' are synonyms, there is a world of difference in the determination of legal liability.

Legal comparison.

6

他笔下的文字,虽看似粗心,实则蕴含着一种浑然天成的野性。

The writing under his pen, though seemingly careless, actually contains a naturally formed wildness.

Literary criticism register.

7

我们要警惕那种由于长期安逸而产生的麻痹与粗心。

We must be wary of the paralysis and carelessness that arise from long-term ease.

Social commentary register.

8

他以一种近乎嘲弄的粗心,挑战着社会的严谨准则。

With an almost mocking carelessness, he challenges society's strict norms.

Sociological analysis register.

Colocaciones comunes

粗心的错误
太粗心了
粗心大意
非常粗心
粗心地发现
因为粗心
性格粗心
粗心的人
有点儿粗心
改掉粗心的毛病

Frases Comunes

粗心大意

— Extremely careless and negligent. It's the most common idiom for this.

这件事千万不能粗心大意。

一时粗心

— A momentary lapse in attention. Used to excuse a mistake.

我只是一时粗心,下次不会了。

由于粗心

— Because of carelessness. Often used in explanations.

由于粗心,他把日期写错了。

别粗心

— Don't be careless. A common warning or advice.

考试的时候别粗心。

粗心鬼

— A 'careless ghost' or 'careless person.' Often used playfully for kids.

你这个小粗心鬼!

粗心到底

— Careless to the extreme. Used to describe a consistent failure.

他真是粗心到底了。

改掉粗心

— To fix one's carelessness habit.

我正在努力改掉粗心的习惯。

不仅粗心

— Not only careless. Used to list multiple flaws.

他不仅粗心,还很懒。

粗心看错

— To read something wrong due to carelessness.

我粗心看错了时间。

粗心丢了

— To lose something due to carelessness.

他粗心丢了钱包。

Se confunde a menudo con

粗心 vs 粗鲁 (cūlǔ)

Means 'rude' or 'rough' in manners, not 'careless'.

粗心 vs 马虎 (mǎhu)

Means 'sloppy' or 'perfunctory', often implying a lack of effort.

粗心 vs 粗糙 (cūcāo)

Means 'rough' in physical texture or 'crude' in quality.

Modismos y expresiones

"粗心大意"

— Negligent and careless. The standard idiom for a lack of focus.

粗心大意往往会导致失败。

Common
"粗枝大叶"

— Literally 'thick branches and big leaves.' Refers to a crude or superficial style of work.

他写文章总是粗枝大叶的。

Literary
"丢三落四"

— To be forgetful and scatterbrained, always leaving things behind.

人老了就容易丢三落四。

Informal
"马马虎虎"

— So-so, or careless/sloppy. Can mean 'average' or 'careless.'

这件事不能马马虎虎地做。

Common
"大而化之"

— To handle matters in a broad, careless way without attention to detail.

他这种大而化之的态度很危险。

Formal
"敷衍了事"

— To do a job half-heartedly just to get it over with.

你不能敷衍了事,太粗心了。

Formal
"漫不经心"

— Totally unconcerned or casual about what one is doing.

他漫不经心地翻着书。

Literary
"心不在焉"

— Absent-minded; one's heart is not there.

他上课心不在焉,所以很粗心。

Common
"视而不见"

— To look but not see. A form of extreme carelessness.

他粗心到对错误的提示视而不见。

Literary
"冒冒失失"

— To be rash, impulsive, and careless in action.

别冒冒失失地冲进去。

Informal

Fácil de confundir

粗心 vs 大意

Both translate to 'careless'.

'大意' is specifically about being overconfident or underestimating a task.

这次比赛你不能大意。

粗心 vs 疏忽

Both mean 'negligent'.

'疏忽' is more formal and refers to a specific oversight.

管理上的疏忽导致了事故。

粗心 vs 马虎

Both mean 'careless'.

'马虎' implies doing something half-heartedly.

他写作业总是马马虎虎的。

粗心 vs 草率

Relates to lack of care.

'草率' is specifically about being too hasty in decision-making.

这个决定太草率了。

粗心 vs 遗忘

Carelessness often leads to forgetting.

'遗忘' is the act of forgetting, not the trait of being careless.

他遗忘了重要的细节。

Patrones de oraciones

A1

S + 很 + 粗心

他很粗心。

A2

S + 粗心地 + V

他粗心地写错了。

A2

粗心的 + N

粗心的学生。

B1

因为 + 粗心 + 所以 + S + V

因为粗心,所以我没看到。

B1

S + 太 + 粗心 + 了

你太粗心了!

B2

S + 并不 + 粗心

他并不粗心。

C1

S + 表现出 + 粗心

他表现出极大的粗心。

C2

粗心 + 之 + 弊

粗心之弊不可忽视。

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

粗心 (carelessness - used as a noun in some contexts)
粗心大意 (negligence)

Adjetivos

粗心 (careless)
粗鲁 (rude)
粗大 (thick/large)
粗糙 (rough/coarse)

Relacionado

细心
马虎
大意
认真
谨慎

Cómo usarlo

frequency

Very high in both spoken and written Mandarin.

Errores comunes
  • Using '粗心' for physical roughness. 粗糙 (cūcāo)

    粗心 only refers to mental carelessness, not physical texture.

  • Saying '他粗心说话' for 'He speaks rudely.' 他说话很粗鲁。

    粗心 is 'careless,' while 粗鲁 is 'rude.'

  • Omitting '地' when using it as an adverb. 他粗心地写错了。

    In Chinese, adjectives need '地' to function as adverbs before a verb.

  • Using '粗心' to mean 'forgetful.' 丢三落四 (diū sān là sì)

    While related, '粗心' is about lack of attention, while '丢三落四' is specifically about forgetting items.

  • Using '粗心' in legal negligence contexts. 疏忽 (shūhu)

    粗心 is too colloquial for legal or high-stakes professional negligence.

Consejos

Coarse Heart

Always remember the literal meaning: 'Coarse Heart.' If your heart (mind) is coarse, you can't feel the fine details.

Self-Correction

When you make a mistake in class, say '抱歉,是我粗心了' to sound like a polite, advanced learner.

Particle Power

Don't forget the '了' in '太粗心了.' It makes your exclamation sound complete and natural.

The Antonym Pair

Learn '粗心' and '细心' together as a pair. It's much easier to remember opposites than isolated words.

The Exam Context

Understand that in China, '粗心' is often seen as a failure of discipline, not just a random mistake.

Tone Accuracy

Both syllables are first tone. Keep your pitch steady and high for both to be understood clearly.

Radical Recognition

The 'rice' radical in '粗' can help you remember the 'coarse' grain origin of the word.

Softening Criticism

Adding '有点儿' (a bit) before '粗心' can make a criticism sound less harsh: '你有点儿粗心'.

Idiom Alert

If you hear four syllables starting with 'cūxīn...', it's almost certainly '粗心大意'.

Check Your Work

The best way to stop being '粗心' is to '检查' (check). These two words are often used together.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of a 'Coarse (粗) Heart (心)'. A coarse heart can't feel the small details; it's too rough. To be careful, you need a 'Fine (细) Heart (心)'.

Asociación visual

Imagine someone trying to thread a needle with thick, coarse rope (粗) instead of fine thread. They are being 'cūxīn' because they aren't paying attention to the size of the needle's eye.

Word Web

粗心 细心 认真 马虎 错误 检查 考试 学生

Desafío

Try to find three things today that you did '粗心地' (carelessly) and say them out loud in Chinese. For example: '我粗心地忘了喝水' (I carelessly forgot to drink water).

Origen de la palabra

The word is a compound of '粗' (cū) and '心' (xīn). '粗' dates back to ancient texts referring to unrefined grains. '心' represents the heart, which in Chinese culture is the seat of both emotion and intellect.

Significado original: A mind that lacks refinement or precision, like coarse grain.

Sino-Tibetan

Contexto cultural

Avoid using '粗心' to describe someone's disability or serious cognitive impairment; it is for general lack of attention.

In English, 'careless' can sound quite harsh or imply a lack of morality. In Chinese, '粗心' is often more about the technicality of missing a detail, though it's still a criticism.

The idiom '粗心大意' is used in countless Chinese fables. Commonly used in 'The Analects' context to describe the opposite of the 'Junzi' (Superior Man) who is always attentive. Frequently appears in modern Chinese pop songs about regret.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

School/Exams

  • 粗心错误
  • 丢分
  • 检查作业
  • 别粗心

Daily Life/Chores

  • 丢钥匙
  • 忘带伞
  • 看错日期
  • 走错路

Work/Office

  • 写错报告
  • 发错邮件
  • 数据错误
  • 由于粗心

Personality Descriptions

  • 性格粗心
  • 粗心大意的人
  • 改掉毛病
  • 比较粗心

Driving/Safety

  • 粗心驾驶
  • 没看到红灯
  • 疏忽大意
  • 千万别粗心

Inicios de conversación

"你觉得自己是一个粗心的人吗?"

"你上次因为粗心犯了什么错?"

"在你的工作中,粗心会有什么后果?"

"你怎么才能改掉粗心的毛病?"

"你觉得粗心和马虎有什么区别?"

Temas para diario

写一写你最粗心的一次经历,以及你学到了什么。

你认为粗心是一个很难改掉的习惯吗?为什么?

描述一个你认识的非常细心的人,并将他/她与粗心的人进行对比。

如果世界上没有粗心的人,生活会变成什么样?

给一个粗心的朋友写一封建议信,告诉他/她如何变得更认真。

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

No, '粗心' is almost exclusively negative. It describes a lack of attention that leads to mistakes. If you want to say someone is 'relaxed,' use '随和' (suíhe).

It is neutral. It can be used in daily conversation, in classrooms, and even in business contexts, although '疏忽' is more formal for business.

The most direct opposite is '细心' (xìxīn), meaning meticulous. '认真' (rènzhēn) is also a common antonym.

You can say '我是一个粗心的人' or simply '我很粗心'.

Generally, no. It describes people or their actions. To describe a 'rough' object, use '粗糙' (cūcāo).

No, it's a four-character idiom (chengyu) that adds emphasis. It's very natural to use in Chinese.

Use '地' (de) when '粗心' is describing how a verb is performed, e.g., '粗心地写' (carelessly writing).

Yes, it's a very basic word that children learn early on, often from their parents or teachers.

No, that is '粗鲁' (cūlǔ). This is a common mistake for beginners.

Yes, it is a key vocabulary item for HSK 3 and appears frequently in higher levels as well.

Ponte a prueba 180 preguntas

writing

Write a sentence using '粗心' to describe yourself.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'He is a careless student.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Use '因为...所以' with 粗心.

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¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'Don't be careless, check again.'

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¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Write the characters for 'cuxin'.

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¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'I carelessly lost my phone.'

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¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Write a short paragraph about why being 粗心 is bad.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Use the idiom '粗心大意' in a sentence.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Compare two people using '粗心'.

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¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'This mistake was caused by carelessness.'

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¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'I'm so careless!'

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¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Describe a '粗心鬼'.

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¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Write 'carelessly' as an adverb.

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¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'My boss said I am careless.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Use '粗心' in a question.

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¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'Accounting needs meticulousness, not carelessness.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Write the pinyin for 粗心.

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¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'He is not careless at all.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Use the word '疏忽' in a sentence.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate: 'Try to fix the habit of being careless.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'I am very careless' in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'Don't be careless' in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'He is too careless' in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'careless student' in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'carelessly wrote wrong' in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'I am more careless than him' in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'Because of carelessness' in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say the idiom '粗心大意' out loud.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Explain what 粗心 means in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'It was my carelessness' in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'Don't be so careless' in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'a bit careless' in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'very meticulous' (the antonym) in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'careless mistake' in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'I forgot my keys again' (blaming carelessness).

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'check the homework' in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'He is a careless ghost' playfully.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'I will never be careless again' in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'Carelessness is bad' in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'Why are you so careless?' in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen to the word 'cūxīn' and identify the tones.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Identify the meaning of 'cūxīn' in a sentence.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Is the speaker happy or frustrated when saying '你太粗心了'?

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen for the antonym: '他不粗心,他很细心'。

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen for the reason for the mistake: '因为粗心,我丢了钱'。

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen for the idiom '粗心大意' in a news clip.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Identify the object lost in the sentence: '他粗心地丢了钥匙'。

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen to a teacher's advice: '别粗心,多检查'。

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Distinguish between 'cūxīn' and 'cūlǔ' in two sentences.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Identify the degree: '非常粗心' vs '有点儿粗心'。

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen for the result: '粗心导致了失败'。

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen for the person being described: '粗心的医生'。

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Identify the modal: '不能粗心'。

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen for the self-criticism: '是我粗心了'。

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Listen for the habit: '改掉粗心的毛病'。

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:

/ 180 correct

Perfect score!

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