大意

dàyì
adjective HSK 7-9 #12,567

Meanings

  1. 1 careless
  2. 2 negligent
  3. 3 main idea
  4. 4 gist

Examples

HSK 3
Qǐng shuō yīxià zhè piān wénzhāng de dàyì.
Please tell us the gist of this article.
HSK 3
Kǎoshì de shíhou qiānwàn bùnéng dàyì.
You absolutely cannot be careless during exams.
HSK 7-9
Nǐ tài dàyì le, bǎ yàoshi wàng zài jiālǐ le.
You were too careless and left the keys at home.

Tips

usage
大意 has two distinct meanings: (1) careless/negligent (adjective), and (2) main idea/gist (noun). Context determines which meaning applies. As 'careless,' it's often used with or 不能.
mistakes
Don't confuse the 'careless' meaning with 大方 (generous) or 粗心 (careless). 粗心 is a personality trait, while 大意 describes a momentary lapse.

Stroke Order