摇摇 (yáo yáo) — shaky, unsteady (reduplicative form of 摇, describing a wobbly or trembling state)

Definition

Reduplicated form of 摇 used as a bound adjective meaning 'shaky, wobbly, unsteady' (usually of objects or a person's movements). It almost always follows 的, as in 摇摇的桌子.

bound form
shakyunsteady (reduplicative form of 摇, describing a wobbly or trembling state)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 摇摇，。
    Nà zuò jiù qiáo yáo yáo de, hěn wēi xiǎn.
    That old bridge is shaky and very dangerous.
  • 摇摇。
    Tā yáo yáo dì cóng yǐ zi shàng zhàn qǐ lái.
    He stood up unsteadily from the chair.
  • 摇摇，。
    Zhè zhuō zi yǒu diǎn yáo yáo de, xū yào xiū yí xià.
    This table is a bit wobbly and needs fixing.

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.

摇yáoshake
摇yáoshake

The repeated 摇 gives a shaky, trembling sense.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 摇 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 摇 →

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