xīnbùzàiyān: 心不在焉 - Absent-minded, Preoccupied, Distracted

Keywords: xin bu zai yan, 心不在焉, xinbuzaiyan, absent-minded in Chinese, distracted Chinese idiom, preoccupied in Chinese, chengyu for focus, not paying attention in Chinese, what does xin bu zai yan mean, HSK 6 vocabulary.

Summary: 心不在焉 (xīnbùzàiyān) is a common and essential Chinese idiom (chengyu) that perfectly describes the state of being absent-minded or distracted. It literally means “the heart is not here,” painting a vivid picture of someone who is physically present but whose mind has wandered off. Whether you're a student in a classroom, an employee in a meeting, or a friend in a conversation, understanding 心不在焉 is key to expressing and recognizing a lack of focus in everyday Chinese.

Pinyin (with tone marks): xīn bù zài yān

Part of Speech: Idiom (成语, chéngyǔ)

HSK Level: HSK 6

Concise Definition: To be absent-minded or inattentive; one's mind is elsewhere.

In a Nutshell: 心不在焉 is the classic Chinese expression for when someone is “checked out.”