摆摆 (bǎi bǎi) — (verb reduplication) to do a brief, casual action of waving/placing/arranging

Definition

摆摆 is the casual, brief form of 摆, showing the action is quick or light. Often used to soften a request or to mean 'let me try placing it'.

verb
(verb reduplication) to do a brief, casual action of waving/placing/arranging

Examples

  • 摆摆。
    Tā xiàng wǒ bǎi bǎi shǒu jiù zǒu le.
    He waved at me and left.
  • 摆摆。
    Qǐng nǐ bǎ zhuō shàng de shū bǎi bǎi hǎo.
    Please arrange the books on the table a bit.
  • ？摆摆。
    Zhè ge wèi zhì zěn me yàng? wǒ bǎi bǎi kàn.
    What about this spot? Let me try placing it.

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.

摆bǎiwave/place/arrange
摆bǎiwave/place/arrange

The doubled 摆 suggests a brief, casual waving or arranging action.

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 擺; 摆 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
罷
罷bà擺bǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 擺 has 手 (hand) with 罷 giving the sound bà; the simplified 摆 is a later shorthand, not the original shape.

Open 摆 →

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 擺; 摆 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
罷
罷bà擺bǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 擺 has 手 (hand) with 罷 giving the sound bà; the simplified 摆 is a later shorthand, not the original shape.

Open 摆 →

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