慢腾腾 (màn téng téng) — slowly and unhurriedly; in a leisurely, sluggish manner

Definition

慢腾腾 (màn tēngtēng) is a vivid adverbial reduplication describing slow, sluggish movement or speech, usually with a hint of annoyance from the speaker. Often used with 的/地 before a verb.

verb
slowly and unhurriedlyin a leisurelysluggish manner

Examples

  • 慢腾腾，。
    Tā shuō huà zǒng shì màn téng téng de, jí sǐ rén.
    He always speaks slowly and deliberately, it's maddening.
  • 慢腾腾，。
    Bié zhè me màn téng téng dì zǒu, huǒ chē kuài kāi le.
    Don't walk so slowly — the train is about to leave.
  • 慢腾腾，。
    Tā màn téng téng dì cóng yǐ zi shàng zhàn qǐ lái, shēn le gè lǎn yāo.
    He stood up from the chair slowly and stretched.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

慢mànslow
腾腾drawn-out feel
腾téng腾téng
重叠Reduplication

慢 gives the sense of slow, while 腾腾 adds a lingering, unhurried feel.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
曼
曼màn慢màn
Same sound today

慢 pairs 忄 (heart) with 曼 (màn). The heart part points to a manner or sluggish behavior, while 曼’s meaning “long, extended” adds the sense of taking a long time.

Open 慢 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 騰; 腾 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎhorse
Sound part声符shēngfú
朕
朕zhèn騰téng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 騰 pairs 馬 (horse) with 朕 as a sound part; it described a horse's gallop or prance. The simplified 腾 is a later shorthand.

Open 腾 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 騰; 腾 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎhorse
Sound part声符shēngfú
朕
朕zhèn騰téng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 騰 pairs 馬 (horse) with 朕 as a sound part; it described a horse's gallop or prance. The simplified 腾 is a later shorthand.

Open 腾 →

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