大意

dàyi / dàyì
adjective HSK 7-9 #12,567

Meanings

  1. 1 careless
  2. 2 negligent

Examples

HSK 4
Nǐ tài dàyi le, bǎ yàoshi wàng zài jiālǐ le.
You were too careless and left the keys at home.
HSK 4
Kǎoshì de shíhou qiānwàn bùnéng dàyi.
You absolutely cannot be careless during exams.
HSK 6
Yìshí dàyi, tā shū diào le bǐsài.
One careless moment and he lost the match.

Tips

mistakes
The second syllable is neutral. Give it a full fourth tone and you have said a different word: 大意, the main idea of a text. It is also not interchangeable with 粗心, which describes someone careless by nature, while 大意 describes a momentary lapse, usually one that cost something.
usage
Commonly pairs with or 不能. It is also the second half of two set phrases worth knowing: 粗心大意 and 麻痹大意.

Stroke Order