不慎

• Pinyin: bù shèn
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 = not; 慎 = 忄(heart) + 真 (true), meaning to be careful with one's heart/mind

Meaning

Careless; inadvertent; by accident. Indicates something done without proper caution.

A formal way to describe actions done carelessly or without due attention, often leading to negative consequences. Common in news reports, accident descriptions, and formal apologies.

Examples

1. 因操作不慎，他的手指被机器夹伤了。 Due to careless operation, his finger was caught and injured by the machine.
2. 驾驶员因不慎驾驶造成了这起交通事故。 The driver caused this traffic accident through careless driving.
3. 稍有不慎，多年的努力就可能付诸东流。 The slightest carelessness could cause years of effort to go down the drain.

Usage Guide

Context: accidents, news, warnings

Tone: cautionary

Do Say

• 用火不慎可能引发火灾。(Careless use of fire may cause a fire.)
• 言语不慎，得罪了不少人。(Careless words offended quite a few people.)

Don't Say

• 我不慎吃了一块蛋糕。(For casual accidents, just describe it normally — 不慎 implies more serious consequences)

Origin & History

不 (not) + 慎 (careful, cautious). Meaning not being careful.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal