Chinese–EnglishWith examples

心不在焉

xīn bù zài yān · xin bu zai yan

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. absent-minded
  2. preoccupied
  3. inattentive
  4. with one's thoughts wandering
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In a conversation

0:20 cartoon

Where is your mind?

  1. Dengdeng

    今天(jīntiān)你(nǐ)怎么(zěnme)心不在焉(xīnbùzàiyān)的(de)？

    Why are you so absent-minded today?

  2. Liangliang

    有(yǒu)吗(ma)？我(wǒ)在(zài)听(tīng)你(nǐ)说话(shuōhuà)啊(a)。

    Am I? I am listening to you.

  3. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)问(wèn)你(nǐ)喝(hē)什么(shénme)，你(nǐ)说(shuō)：好(hǎo)。

    I asked what you wanted to drink, and you said, OK.

  4. Liangliang

    对不起(duìbuqǐ)，我(wǒ)是(shì)有点(yǒudiǎn)心不在焉(xīnbùzàiyān)，在(zài)想(xiǎng)晚饭(wǎnfàn)。

    Sorry, I am a bit absent-minded. I am thinking about dinner.

  5. Dengdeng

    难怪(nánguài)你(nǐ)一口气(yīkǒuqì)点(diǎn)了(le)三(sān)杯(bēi)咖啡(kāfēi)！

    No wonder you ordered three coffees in one go!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

他(tā)在(zài)课(kè)堂(táng)上(shàng)心(xīn)不(bú)在(zài)焉(yān)。

He had his head in the clouds in class.

Tatoeba: Chinese by Martha · English by Zifre · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

02

她(tā)心(xīn)不(bú)在(zài)焉(yān)地(de)翻(fān)着(zhe)书(shū)，一(yí)个(gè)字(zì)也(yě)没(méi)看(kàn)进(jìn)去(qu)。

She flipped through the book absent-mindedly, not taking in a single word.

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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