揉搓 (róu cuo) — to rub with the hands; to knead; to manipulate emotionally; to keep on tenterhooks; to tease; to play jokes on (someone)
Definition
Verb built from 揉 (rub/knead) + 搓 (rub between the palms). Beyond the physical 'rub/knead' sense, it figuratively means emotionally pulling someone back and forth — teasing or keeping them on tenterhooks.
verb
to rub with the handsto kneadto manipulate emotionallyto keep on tenterhooksto teaseto play jokes on (someone)
Examples
- 揉搓。Mā ma zài chú fáng lǐ róu cuo miàn tuán.Mom is kneading dough in the kitchen.
- ，揉搓。Tā de huí dá lǎo shì hán hán hu hū, bié zhè yàng róu cuo wǒ le.His answers are always vague — don't keep me in suspense like this.
- 揉搓。Tā men zǒng ài yòng nà zhǒng wán xiào lái róu cuo tā.They always love to tease him with that kind of joke.
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