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东倒西歪 (dōng dǎo xī wāi) — (of a person) staggering, tottering, unsteady on one's feet; (of objects) leaning, dilapidated, falling apart

Definition

A vivid chengyu describing people or things that are unsteady, leaning, or falling apart. Usually modifies a subject with 的 (e.g. 走路东倒西歪的, 房子东倒西歪的) rather than standing alone.

idiom
(of a person) staggeringtotteringunsteady on one's feet(of objects) leaningdilapidatedfalling apart

Examples

  • ，东倒西歪。
    Tā hē zuì le, zǒu lù dōng dǎo xī wāi de.
    He was drunk and walked all wobbly.
  • 东倒西歪，。
    Nà jiān lǎo fáng zi yǐ jīng dōng dǎo xī wāi, kuài yào tā le.
    That old house is already dilapidated and about to collapse.
  • ，，东倒西歪。
    Lèi le yì tiān, wǒ zhàn dōu zhàn bù wěn, shēn zi dōng dǎo xī wāi de.
    After a long day, I could barely stand — my body was swaying all over the place.

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