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捡了芝麻丢了西瓜

jiǎn le zhī ma diū le xī guādictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
to let go of the big prize while grabbing at trifles (idiom)
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-95103249b6f1014c. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

撿了芝麻丟了西瓜 捡了芝麻丢了西瓜 [jian3 le5 zhi1 ma5 diu1 le5 xi1 gua1] /to let go of the big prize while grabbing at trifles (idiom)/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 撿了芝麻丟了西瓜

  • 捡
    jiǎn

    to pick up / to collect / to gather

  • 了
    le

    (completed action marker) / (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) / (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)

    liǎo

    to finish / (used with 得[dé] or 不[bù] after a verb to express (im)possibility, as in 忘不了[wàng bu liǎo] "cannot forget") / (literary) (usually followed by a negative such as 無|无[wú] or 不[bù]) completely (not) / entirely (not) / (not) in the least / (bound form) clear in one's mind / to understand clearly

    liào

    See the full entry for source details.

  • 芝
    zhī

    Zoysia pungens

  • 麻
    má

    hemp (variant of 麻[má]) / generic name for hemp, flax etc / hemp or flax fiber for textile materials / sesame / CL:縷|缕[lǚ] / (of materials) rough or coarse / pocked / pitted / to have pins and needles or tingling / to feel numb

    Má

    surname Ma

  • 丢
    diū

    to lose / to put aside / to throw

  • 了
    le

    (completed action marker) / (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) / (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)

    liǎo

    to finish / (used with 得[dé] or 不[bù] after a verb to express (im)possibility, as in 忘不了[wàng bu liǎo] "cannot forget") / (literary) (usually followed by a negative such as 無|无[wú] or 不[bù]) completely (not) / entirely (not) / (not) in the least / (bound form) clear in one's mind / to understand clearly

    liào

    See the full entry for source details.

  • 西
    xī

    west

    Xī

    the West / abbr. for Spain 西班牙[Xī bān yá] / Spanish

  • 瓜
    guā

    melon / gourd / squash / (slang) a piece of gossip

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.