摇摆不定 (yáo bǎi bù dìng) — to vacillate, to waver, to be indecisive

Definition

An idiom for wavering or being unable to stick to a decision — often about attitudes, policies, or choices that keep shifting back and forth.

idiom

to vacillateto waverto be indecisive

，摇摆不定，。
Zài guān jiàn shí kè, tā yì zhí yáo bǎi bù dìng, wú fǎ zuò chū jué dìng.
At the critical moment, he kept vacillating and couldn't make a decision.
摇摆不定，。
Gōng sī de zhèng cè yáo bǎi bù dìng, ràng yuán gōng gǎn dào kùn huò.
The company's policy is wavering, causing confusion among employees.
摇摆不定，，。
Tā de tài dù yáo bǎi bù dìng, yí huì r tóng yì, yí huì r yòu fǎn duì.
Her attitude is indecisive — she agrees one moment and opposes the next.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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 擺; 摆 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

罷

罷bà擺bǎi

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 擺 has 手 (hand) with 罷 giving the sound bà; the simplified 摆 is a later shorthand, not the original shape.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

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

宀宀mián

Sound part声符shēngfú

正

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

定 is built from 宀 and 正, with 正 supplying the sound.

Appears in