CHENGYU
三长两短(sān cháng liǎng duǎn)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- neutral, euphemistic
- Source:
- 明·范文若《鸳鸯棒·恚剔》
MEANING
- Literal
- three long pieces and two short pieces
- Figurative meaning
- unexpected misfortune; something fatal
ORIGIN STORY
A Ming drama has a father vow: "Should anything of three longs and two shorts befall my daughter, I will demand an answer." The phrase is a folk euphemism: three long and two short boards are what make a coffin.
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“if anything should happen to someone”
EXAMPLES
万一他有个三长两短，家里怎么办？Wànyī tā yǒu ge sān cháng liǎng duǎn, jiāli zěnme bàn?HSK6
If something fatal ever befell him, what would the family do?
小心开车，别出什么三长两短。Xiǎoxīn kāichē, bié chū shénme sān cháng liǎng duǎn.HSK6
Drive carefully — let nothing untoward happen.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: It is a euphemism for death or serious disaster — not for small problems or delays.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
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TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01