三长两短

三長兩短
sāncháng-liǎngduǎn
idiom #18,651

Meanings

  1. 1 unexpected misfortune
  2. 2 unforeseen disaster (euphemism for death)

Examples

HSK 4
Wànyī nǐ yǒu gè sāncháng-liǎngduǎn, háizi zěnmebàn?
If something terrible were to happen to you, what about the children?
HSK 4
Tā zǒngshì dānxīn jiārén huì yǒu sāncháng-liǎngduǎn.
She always worries that something bad might happen to her family.

Tips

culture
三长两短 literally refers to the three long and two short boards of a coffin (before the lid is placed). It's a euphemism for death or serious misfortune, often used in the pattern 万一三长两短 ('in case something terrible happens').

Stroke Order

sān
cháng
liǎng
duǎn