Can I use 马马虎虎 to describe food, and in what sorts of sentences can I use it?

Question

In what kinds of sentences can "马马虎虎" be used? Would I be able to use it to describe how good food tastes, and if so, how would I structure the sentence? Is it usually used by itself as a sentence? I'm never sure if the context is right to use it or not. I want to describe a food as tasting mediocre.

Answer 1

1. To express a mediocre taste, I think it's better to say

   這道菜［很普通/平淡無奇］。

2. 馬虎 is generally used when we wish to comment on someone’s attitude. It may be used when you wish to criticise someone’s preparation of the dish as sloppy:

   這道菜做得馬馬虎虎。
   (lit.) This dish is done in a sloppy manner.

3. The sense 'so-so' (還過得去 in Cihai's definition), as in

   這道菜，馬馬虎虎吧。
   (lit.) This dish, it's so-so.

   , is very colloquial, perhaps regional. It is found in Cihai but not in Taiwan dictionaries.

Answer 2

In your case, you can say 这道菜马马虎虎. Similar use 这台电视马马虎虎。

It can also be used adverbally. E. g. 他歌唱得马马虎虎。