马虎 mǎhu careless
careless; sloppy; casual
How to remember 马虎: 马 horse (Kangxi radical 187) + 虎 tiger = careless.
Characters
How it is used
- Careless/sloppy in doing something - 做事太马虎 (zuòshì tài mǎhu) too careless in one's work; note 虎 is neutral tone (mǎhu).
- Reduplicated 马马虎虎 (mǎmǎhūhū) shifts meaning to so-so/passable - 你中文怎么样?马马虎虎 how's your Chinese? - not bad, just okay.