# 不修边幅

bù xiū biān fú

Pay little attention to personal appearance

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Do not tidy the edges

**Traditional Chinese:** 不修邊幅

**Register:** Descriptive · general

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Describe careless dress or grooming.

Appearance does not establish competence or character.

## Understanding the expression

Untended edges suggest details of clothing and grooming left without care. The expression describes someone whose appearance is rough or informal, often because attention goes elsewhere. It may be affectionate in a portrait of an absorbed scholar, or critical in a formal workplace. The judgment is visual rather than moral. A person's untidy clothes do not prove laziness, and practical circumstances may explain an appearance that differs from social expectations.

## Examples

他忙着实验，常常不修边幅。

### Traditional Chinese

他忙著實驗，常常不修邊幅。

tā máng zhuó shí yàn ， cháng cháng bù xiū biān fú 。

Absorbed in experiments, he often neglects his appearance.

面试当天别太不修边幅。

### Traditional Chinese

面試當天別太不修邊幅。

miàn shì dāng tiān bié tài bù xiū biān fú 。

Avoid a very unkempt appearance at the interview.

画家不修边幅，作品却很细腻。

### Traditional Chinese

畫家不修邊幅，作品卻很細膩。

huà jiā bù xiū biān fú ， zuò pǐn què hěn xì nì 。

The artist is untidy but produces delicate work.

她喜欢随意穿着，却并非不修边幅。

### Traditional Chinese

她喜歡隨意穿著，卻並非不修邊幅。

tā xǐ huan suí yì chuān zhe ， què bìng fēi bù xiū biān fú 。

She dresses casually without being unkempt.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E4%B8%8D%E4%BF%AE%E9%82%8A%E5%B9%85)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=539&webMd=1&la=0)

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