child's play; a trivial matter not to be taken seriously
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesnoun
child's play; children's games
The literal meaning.
Hái孩
zi子
men们
zài在
yuàn院
zi子
lǐ里
wán玩
zhe着
jiǎn简
dān单
de的
ér儿
xì戏
。
The children are playing simple games in the yard.
Tiào跳
fáng房
zi子
、
zhuō捉
mí迷
cáng藏
dōu都
shì是
chuán传
tǒng统
de的
ér儿
xì戏
。
Hopscotch and hide-and-seek are traditional children's games.
noun
a trifling matter; something not to be taken seriously
The metaphorical meaning, used to criticize treating serious matters lightly.
Zhè这
shì是
guān关
hū乎
rén人
mìng命
de的
dà大
shì事
，
qǐ岂
néng能
shì视
tóng同
ér儿
xì戏
？
This is a major issue concerning human lives; how can we treat it as a trifling matter?
Tā他
bǎ把
gōng公
sī司
de的
zhòng重
dà大
jué决
cè策
dàng当
ér儿
xì戏
，
hòu后
guǒ果
hěn很
yán严
zhòng重
。
He treated the company's major decisions as a joke, with serious consequences.
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Ān安
quán全
guī规
chéng程
bì必
xū须
yán严
gé格
zūn遵
shǒu守
，
bù不
néng能
dàng当
ér儿
xì戏
。
Safety regulations must be strictly followed; they cannot be taken lightly.