Definition
吞吞吐吐 describes a hesitant, mumbling way of speaking — someone who starts and stops, as if hiding something. 闪烁 (shǎn shuò) in speech (闪烁其词) means being deliberately evasive or vague, often with clever wording; 吞吞吐吐 is more about physical hesitation and awkward pauses.
adjective
hesitant and mumbling in speechevasiveto hum and haw
Examples
- 吞吞吐吐，。Tā shuōhuà zǒng shì tūn tūn tǔ tǔ de, zhēn ràng rén zháojí.He always mumbles and hesitates when he speaks — it's really frustrating.
- 吞吞吐吐，。Bié tūn tūn tǔ tǔ de, yǒu shénme huà jiù zhí shuō.Stop being evasive — just say what you have to say directly.
- 吞吞吐吐，。Tā tūn tūn tǔ tǔ de huídá jǐngchá de wèntí, xiǎnde hěn kěyí.He answered the police officer's questions hesitantly, which seemed very suspicious.
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