扭扭捏捏 (niǔ niǔ niē niē) — overly shy and hesitant; affectedly modest; coy (in a negative sense)
Definition
Reduplicated AABB adverbial phrase describing someone acting shy, hesitant, or unnaturally modest — usually with a negative judgment. Often used with 地 to modify a verb (e.g. 扭扭捏捏地说).
bound form
overly shy and hesitantaffectedly modestcoy (in a negative sense)
Examples
- 扭扭捏捏，。Tā shuō huà zǒng shì niǔ niǔ niē niē de, yì diǎn dōu bú dà fāng.He always speaks in a coy, hesitant way, not at all natural.
- 扭扭捏捏，。Bié nà me niǔ niǔ niē niē de, yǒu shén me huà jiù zhí jiē shuō ba.Don't be so shy and affected; if you have something to say, just say it directly.
- 扭扭捏捏，。Tā zài mò shēng rén miàn qián xiǎn de niǔ niǔ niē niē, hěn bú zì zài.She appears very shy and hesitant in front of strangers, very uncomfortable.
Appears in
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