心不在焉

xīnbù-zàiyān

idiom #10,289

Meanings

1 absent-minded
2 preoccupied
3 inattentive

Characters

there (classical particle)

Examples

他上课总是心不在焉的。

Tā shàngkè zǒngshì xīnbùzàiyān de.

He's always absent-minded in class.

你今天怎么心不在焉的？

Nǐ jīntiān zěnme xīnbùzàiyān de?

Why are you so distracted today?

Tips

grammar

焉 (yān) is a classical Chinese particle meaning 'there' or 'in it.' The idiom literally means 'the heart/mind is not there.'

Stroke Order

心 xīn

不 bù

在 zài

焉 yān