捡了芝麻丢了西瓜 jiǎn le zhī ma diū le xī guā

to let go of the big prize while grabbing at trifles (idiom)

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. to let go of the big prize while grabbing at trifles (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
捡 jiǎn HSK 5
to pick up; to collect; to gather
了 le HSK 1
(completed action marker)
芝 zhī
Zoysia pungens
麻 ma HSK 4
to feel numb; hemp; sesame
丢 diū HSK 4
to lose; to throw; to put aside
了 le HSK 1
(completed action marker)
西 xī HSK 1
west; the West; abbr. for Spain 西班牙xī bān yá
瓜 guā HSK 2
melon; gourd; squash