拖泥带水

拖泥帶水

tuōní-dàishuǐ

idiom #33,229

Meanings

HSK 4

他办事总是拖泥带水，效率很低。

Tā bànshì zǒngshì tuōní-dàishuǐ, xiàolǜ hěn dī.

He handles things messily and indecisively - very inefficient.

HSK 5

说话要干脆，别拖泥带水。

Shuōhuà yào gāncuì, bié tuōní-dàishuǐ.

Speak clearly - don't ramble on and on.

history

The image appears in Chan (Zen) texts 《碧岩录》 and 《五灯会元》: saying 'Buddha' or 'Zen' already drags mud - i.e. spoils the purity through words.

usage

Usually applied to speech or decision-making rather than literal messiness. Opposite: 干脆利落.

拖 tuō

泥 ní

带 dài

水 shuǐ