不经意

• Pinyin: bù jīng yì
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 = not; 经 = 纟(silk) + 巠 (waterway), meaning to pass through or attend to; 意 = intention/meaning

Meaning

Inadvertently; unintentionally; by chance; without noticing.

Describes actions or discoveries that happen without deliberate attention or intention. Often used for accidental revelations, casual observations, or unplanned occurrences. Can describe both the speaker's own inadvertent actions or observations of others.

Examples

1. 她不经意间提到了他的名字，我才知道他们认识。 She inadvertently mentioned his name, and only then did I learn they knew each other.
2. 他不经意地瞥了一眼窗外，突然发现了异常。 He casually glanced out the window and suddenly noticed something unusual.
3. 很多重大发现都是科学家在不经意中获得的。 Many major discoveries were made by scientists inadvertently.

Usage Guide

Context: accidents, discoveries, observations

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 他不经意说漏了嘴。(He inadvertently let it slip.)
• 不经意间，十年过去了。(Before I knew it, ten years had passed.)

Don't Say

• 我不经意地完成了作业。(Completing homework requires intention — 不经意 is for truly unplanned things)

Origin & History

不 (not) + 经意 (to pay attention, be deliberate). 经 here means to go through or attend to, 意 means intention.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal