东倒西歪

東倒西歪

dōngdǎoxīwāi

idiom #36,961

Meanings

1 leaning every which way (idiom)
2 tottering; askew; (of buildings) leaning at crazy angles

Characters

to fall; topple

Examples

他喝醉了，走路东倒西歪。

Tā hē zuì le, zǒulù dōngdǎoxīwāi.

He was drunk and swayed from side to side as he walked.

地震后，一排排房子东倒西歪。

Dìzhèn hòu, yī pái pái fángzi dōngdǎoxīwāi.

After the earthquake, row upon row of houses leaned at crazy angles.

Tips

memory

东 (east) and 西 (west) are often paired in Chinese idioms to mean 'every which way' — like 东张西望 ('looking east and west' = glancing around). Here: '倒 east, 歪 west' = leaning in every direction.

Stroke Order

东 dōng

倒 dào

西 xī

歪 wāi