Meaning:

    “不” means “not,” and “严谨” means “rigorous, careful.” Popularized by the Spring Festival Gala on China’s CCTV, this catchphrase was used several times on the stage by a delivery guy named Xiao Qiao in a mini comedy show. The guy, supposed to be a person very serious about his job, used the phrase to criticize others when he thought they should be more careful and take things more serious like he does. Some netizens also use the term jokingly. For example, they will say a girl’s outfit is “not careful” to mean that her garment looks kind of improper, ugly or hilarious.

    Example:

    A: 听说今晚你被安排相亲？

    Tīngshuō jīnwǎn nǐ bèi ānpái xiàngqīn?

    I hear you have a blind date tonight?

    B: 是啊，过完年，有个亲戚一再要我跟她同事的女儿见个面。

    Shì a, guò wán nián, yǒu gè qīnqì yīzài yào wǒ gēn tā tóngshì de nǚér jiàn gè miàn。

    Yeah. A relative insists I meet the daughter of her colleague after the Chinese New Year.

    A: 你穿成这样不严谨了吧？

    Nǐ chuānchéng zhèyàng bù yánjǐn le ba?

    Is it a bit improper that you’re dressed like this?

    B: 我不想显得太正式。

    Wǒ bùxiǎng xiǎnde tài zhèngshì。

    I don’t want it to look official.