不修边幅

bù xiū biān fú

careless about one’s appearance; unkempt

Character by character

不bù
not

修xiū
trim

边biān
edge

幅fú
cloth width

这位教授一心做研究，平时不修边幅，衬衫常常是皱的。

The professor is wrapped up in his research and pays no attention to his appearance; his shirts are often creased.

Tone: neutral.

边幅, the edge of a bolt of cloth, stands for dress and appearance. Often said indulgently of scholars and artists too absorbed in their work to care.

Learn this in Lesson 132 · HSK 7–9: 从的确良到汉服 (From Dacron shirts to Hanfu)

A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.