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sān 三 xīn 心 èr 二 yì 意

三心二意 sān xīn èr yì

half-hearted; unable to make up one's mind

Literally: three hearts two minds

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Origin

Descriptive; no single source story. Appears in Yuan dynasty drama as the opposite of 一心一意.

How to use it

Predicate or adverbial; negative. Often 做事不能三心二意.

Example sentences

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  1. 做作业的时候别三心二意，一会儿看电视一会儿玩游戏。
    Zuò zuòyè de shíhou bié sān xīn èr yì, yīhuìr kàn diànshì yīhuìr wán yóuxì.
    Don't be half-hearted while doing homework, watching TV one minute and playing games the next.
    do homework (particle) time don't three hearts two minds, a-while watch TV a-while play game
  2. 他学什么都三心二意，所以什么都没学好。
    Tā xué shénme dōu sān xīn èr yì, suǒyǐ shénme dōu méi xuéhǎo.
    He's half-hearted about everything he studies, so he hasn't learned anything well.
    he learn what all three hearts two minds, therefore what all not learn-well

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