HSK · Level 42
120 words
Chinese word
一不小心
Pronunciation
Pinyinyī bù xiǎo xīn
Meaning
- adverbaccidentally
Example
一不小心把杯子打破了。yí bù xiǎo xīn bǎ bēi zi dǎ pò le
I accidentally broke the cup.
More examples
我一不小心把文件删掉了。wǒ yí bù xiǎo xīn bǎ wén jiàn shān diào le
I accidentally deleted the file.
Core concept
An ordinary action goes off course because attention slips for a moment.
Common phrases
一不小心就yí bù xiǎo xīn jiù
if not careful then
一不小心把yí bù xiǎo xīn bǎ
accidentally
一不小心弄丢了yí bù xiǎo xīn nòng diū le
accidentally lose
一不小心说漏了yí bù xiǎo xīn shuō lòu le
accidentally let slip
Similar words
不小心bù xiǎo xīn: In a careless way that causes a mistake or accident through poor attention.
一不留神yí bù liú shén: When a brief lapse in attention allows a mistake or accident to occur.
不经意间bù jīng yì jiān: Without noticing, as something happens outside conscious awareness.
无意中wú yì zhōng: Accidentally, with no intention or purpose behind the result.
Definition in Chinese
表示因一时不留神或粗心而发生意外或错误，作为副词常放在动词或句首，语气偏轻且多见于口语。biǎo shì yīn yì shí bù liú shén huò cū xīn ér fā shēng yì wài huò cuò wù zuò wéi fù cí cháng fàng zài dòng cí huò jù shǒu yǔ qì piān qīng qiě duō jiàn yú kóu yǔ
Word origin
The phrase combines 一 (yī, "one") with 不小心 (bù xiǎoxīn, "not careful"), linking one instance of carelessness with an unintended outcome.
Usage tips
- In an apology, this expression can soften an account of a mistake, but the surrounding sentence determines whether it sounds like a simple explanation or an attempt to avoid blame.
Other meanings
- carelesslyadverb
Opposites
- 小心翼翼xiǎo xīn yì yìvery cautiouslyadverb