大大咧咧

• Pinyin: dà da liē liē
• Hanzi breakdown: 大 = big; 咧 = 口 + 列 (to grin, informal manner)

Meaning

Carefree; casual; sloppy; careless. An adjective describing someone who is easy-going to the point of being inattentive to details.

Can be neutral (describing an easygoing personality) or mildly negative (implying carelessness). Often describes people who don't sweat the small stuff but may overlook important details.

Examples

1. 她性格大大咧咧的，从来不在意别人怎么看她。 She has a carefree personality and never cares what others think of her.
2. 他做事太大大咧咧了，经常丢三落四。 He's too careless about things and often forgets this or that.
3. 大大咧咧的人有时候挺可爱的，不会为小事斤斤计较。 Carefree people can actually be quite endearing — they don't fuss over little things.

Usage Guide

Context: personality, behavior

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 他这人大大咧咧的，你别跟他计较。(He's the carefree type — don't take it personally.)
• 别太大大咧咧了，这件事很重要。(Don't be so careless — this matter is important.)

Don't Say

• 这道菜很大大咧咧 (大大咧咧 describes personality, not food or objects)

Origin & History

Reduplicative idiom where 大咧咧 means casual/carefree. The AABB pattern intensifies the meaning.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal