娇滴滴 (jiāo dī dī) — (of voice or manner) delicately sweet and coquettish; (often derogatory) affectedly charming, acting coy

Definition

An adjective-like reduplication meaning a voice or manner that sounds delicately sweet and coy. Often used negatively to describe acting flirtatiously or affectedly charming — 'stop being so coy.'

verb
(of voice or manner) delicately sweet and coquettish(often derogatory) affectedly charmingacting coy

Examples

  • 娇滴滴，。
    Tā shuō huà de shēng yīn jiāo dī dī de, ràng rén tīng le jué de hěn shū fu.
    Her voice is so sweet and gentle that it feels very pleasant to hear.
  • 娇滴滴，？
    Bié jiāo dī dī de le, hǎo hǎo shuō huà bù xíng ma?
    Stop being so coy — can't you just speak normally?
  • 娇滴滴。
    Tā zài nán péng you miàn qián zǒng shì jiāo dī dī de.
    She always acts sweet and coquettish around her boyfriend.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

娇jiāodelicate
滴滴
滴dī滴dī

娇 conveys delicate sweetness, and 滴滴 adds a repeated soft tone.

Characters in this word

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 嬌; 娇 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
喬
喬qiáo嬌jiāo
Same sound today

The traditional form 嬌 has 女 (woman) beside 喬, which gave the sound; the simplified 娇 is a shorthand.

Open 娇 →

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
水水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
啻
啻chì滴dī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

滴 has 水, meaning water, on the left, and 啻 on the right, which tells how it sounds.

Open 滴 →

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
水水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
啻
啻chì滴dī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

滴 has 水, meaning water, on the left, and 啻 on the right, which tells how it sounds.

Open 滴 →

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