摇摇摆摆 (yáo yáo bǎi bǎi) — swaying; staggering; wobbling (of gait or movement)
Definition
Onomatopoeic reduplication meaning 'swaying or wobbling' in gait or movement — typically of a drunk person, a toddler, or something shaken by wind.
bound form
swayingstaggeringwobbling (of gait or movement)
Examples
- ，摇摇摆摆，。Tā hē zuì le, zǒu lù yáo yáo bǎi bǎi de, chà diǎn shuāi dǎo.He was drunk and walked staggering, almost falling.
- 摇摇摆摆，。Fēng chuī dé shù shàng de dēng long yáo yáo bǎi bǎi, hǎo xiàng yào diào xià lái.The wind blew the lanterns on the tree swaying, as if they would fall off.
- ，摇摇摆摆。Nà zhī xiǎo yā zi gāng xué huì zǒu lù, yáo yáo bǎi bǎi dì gēn zài mā ma hòu miàn.That little duck just learned to walk, wobbling along behind its mother.
Origin
Reduplicated word构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication
A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.
摇 “sway” and 摆 “swing” in 摇摇 and 摆摆 give a swaying, staggering movement.
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