What Does Mamahuhu Mean in Chinese?
Mamahuhu is a four-character Chinese idiom that literally translates to “horse horse tiger tiger 马马虎虎 mǎ mǎ hū hū
.” Despite its strange literal meaning, this phrase is commonly used in Mandarin to express two distinct concepts:
- Mediocre, average, so-so
When used to describe someone’s ability, performance, or the quality of something, mamahuhu conveys that it is neither exceptionally good nor bad – just average or mediocre. - Careless, casual, sloppy
The phrase can also suggest that a task or action was done in a careless, casual, or sloppy manner without much effort or attention to detail.
The Interesting Origins of Mamahuhu
There are various folk stories that attempt to explain the origins of this peculiar idiom. One popular version tells of a painter whose skills were merely average. When friends visited and tried to guess what he was painting, one said “horse” while the other said “tiger.” Through their back-and-forth arguing, the phrase “horse horse tiger tiger” was uttered, which came to represent the painter’s mediocre abilities.
- Related watching: Here’s a video exlpains the origins of Mamahuhu： Ma Ma Hu Hu 马马虎虎
What Does Mamahuhu Mean
The main meaning of mamahuhu is to describe something as average, mediocre or so-so. If you say someone’s work or ability is mamahuhu, you mean it is not very good, but also not terrible – just middle of the road. It conveys that level of quality or performance is unremarkable.
Mamahuhu can also suggest an action was done in a careless, sloppy or casual way without much effort put in. If you say you read a book in a mamahuhu fashion, it implies you read it quickly and carelessly without paying close attention.
The phrase is considered an idiomatic expression or 成语 chéng yǔin Chinese. An amusing folk story is told to explain its peculiar origins. It involves a painter of average skill whose artist friends debated whether his latest painting depicted a horse or tiger, going back and forth saying “horse horse tiger tiger” until it stuck.
While mamahuhu has a funny literal meaning of “horse horse tiger tiger”, Chinese speakers will understand you are using a common idiom to describe something as average quality or done in a careless manner when you use this expression. It’s a memorable and useful phrase for learners to know.
Related Reading:
- GoEast’s Post: Over thirty Chinese idioms and sayings
- GoEast’s Post: 12 Chinese Proverbs That Will Change How You View Life
- GoEast’s Video : What is “People Mountain People Sea” 人山人海
- GoEast’s Video : How to express “Kill two birds with one stone” in Chinese 一石二鸟
- GoEast’s Video: Chinese idioms workshop
How to Use Mamahuhu In Contexts?
“Mamahuhu” can be used in various contexts to succinctly describe something as mediocre, average, or done in a careless manner.
At School:
A: 你那次数学考试考得怎么样? (Nǐ nà cì shùxué kǎoshì kǎo de zěnmeyàng)
How did you do on the math test？B: 马马虎虎。我没怎么用功学习。
Mamahuhu. I didn’t study very hard.（Mǎmǎhūhū. Wǒ méi zěnme yònggōng xuéxí.）
Between Friends:
A: 嘿,你昨晚的约会怎么样? （Hēi, nǐ zuówǎn de yuēhuì zěnmeyàng?)
Hey, how was your date last night?B：马马虎虎 。那家餐馆一般般,我们俩也不合适。（Mǎmǎhūhū. Nàjiā cānguǎn yìbānbān, wǒmen liǎ yěbù hé shì.)
Mamahuhu. The restaurant was just okay, and we didn’t really hit it off.
At Home:
A：在发这份报告前,我需要你帮忙校对一下。（Zài fā zhè fèn bàogào qián, wǒ xūyào nǐ bāngmáng jiàodui yíxià.)
I need you to proofread this report before sending it out.B：没问题,不过请注意我可能马马虎虎,因为我现在有很多其他工作。（Méiwèntí, bú guò qǐngzhùyì wǒ kěnéng mǎmǎhūhū, yīnwèi wǒ xiànzài yǒuhěnduō qítā gōngzuò.)
No problem, but just a heads up – I’ll probably do it mamahuhu since I’m swamped with other tasks right now.
Other Ways to Express “Mediocre” and “Careless” in Mandarin
Mamahuhu is just one of many ways to express these concepts in Mandarin. Learners can use synonymous words like 一般yì bān 普通pǔ tōng, or 还好hái hǎo for “average” and 马虎mǎ hu, 随便suí biàn for “careless” to sound more natural.
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