战战兢兢 (zhàn zhàn jīng jīng) — trembling with fear; in a state of extreme fear and nervousness; cautiously and nervously; with great trepidation
Definition
A reduplicated chengyu (idiom) describing trembling fear and extreme nervousness, like shaking before a boss or test. Always adverbial, used as ∼地 or as a verbal phrase — never a plain adjective.
bound form
trembling with fearin a state of extreme fear and nervousnesscautiously and nervouslywith great trepidation
Examples
- ，战战兢兢。Tā zhàn zài lǎo bǎn miàn qián, zhàn zhàn jīng jīng dì bù gǎn shuō huà.He stood before the boss, trembling with fear and not daring to speak.
- 战战兢兢，。Kǎo shì qián tā zhàn zhàn jīng jīng, shēng pà zì jǐ kǎo bù hǎo.Before the exam he was extremely nervous, afraid he wouldn't do well.
- 战战兢兢，。Wǒ zhàn zhàn jīng jīng dì jiē guò nà zhāng jiǎn chá bào gào, shǒu dōu zài dǒu.I took the medical report with great trepidation, my hands trembling.
Origin
Appears in
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