摇头晃脑

搖頭晃腦

yáotóuhuàngnǎo

idiom #43,171

Meanings

1 to shake and wag one's head
2 to bob one's head pompously (as a scholar reading aloud)
3 head-swaying

Characters

Examples

他摇头晃脑地背诵古诗。

Tā yáotóuhuàngnǎo de bèisòng gǔshī.

He recited the ancient poem, swaying his head as he went.

小孩听到音乐就摇头晃脑。

Xiǎohái tīngdào yīnyuè jiù yáotóuhuàngnǎo.

The kid starts bobbing his head as soon as music plays.

Tips

history

Lu Xun in 《二心集》 describes bad translations being read 摇头晃脑, mocking the head-wagging rhythm of scholars savoring their own words.

culture

Classic image of old-style scholars reciting the classics, lost in the sound of their own chanting. Now often slightly mocking — suggests pompous self-enjoyment.

Stroke Order

摇 yáo

头 tóu

晃 huàng

脑 nǎo