三長兩短 sān cháng liǎng duǎn

DEFINITIONS

  1. unexpected misfortune
  2. unexpected accident
  3. sudden death

CHARACTERS

三 sān three
長 cháng long; length; excel in; leader
兩 liǎng two, both, pair, couple; ounce
短 duǎn short; brief; deficient, lacking