Definition
毛手毛脚 is a four-character idiom (成语) that describes someone who is careless, clumsy, and rough in their movements — often knocking things over or being hasty. It can also refer to a man acting overly familiar or taking liberties with a woman (behaving in a physically intrusive or disrespectful way). The image is of someone whose hands and feet are 'hairy' like an animal — i.e., not refined or delicate. Always negative, used to criticize someone's lack of care or boundaries.
f.e.
clumsycarelessrough in movement (often breaking things due to haste)(of a man toward a woman) overly familiaroffhandedtaking liberties
Examples
- 毛手毛脚，。Tā zuò shì zǒng shì máo shǒu máo jiǎ, dǎ suì le hǎo jǐ gè bēizi.He's always so clumsy when doing things — he's broken several cups.
- 毛手毛脚。Zài gōnggòng chǎnghé duì nǚshēng máo shǒu máo jiǎ shì fēicháng bù lǐmào de.It's very rude to take liberties with women in public.
- 毛手毛脚，。Wǒ xián tā máo shǒu máo jiǎ, nìngyuàn zìjǐ dòng shǒu.I found him too careless, so I preferred to do it myself.
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